"It is unacceptable": member states lash out at Spain for linking EU enlargement to Catalan

BrusselsSpain has once again brought the official status of Catalan to the European Union this Tuesday. As Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares had already announced, the Spanish executive explained to the EU General Affairs Council that it links the recognition of Basque, Galician, and Catalan to the accession of new states to the community club. It considers it "unthinkable" that another language be added to the EU's official regime (such as Montenegrin or Albanian) if the official status of the co-official languages of the Spanish state has not been accepted first.

The proposal, however, has not pleased the member states. Germany, Sweden, and Lithuania have criticized the Moncloa for conditioning EU enlargement on the recognition of the languages. All three countries took the floor during the debate in the Council, which lasted only seven minutes, to reply to the Spanish executive, as diplomatic sources explained to ARA. "It is unacceptable," asserted the Lithuanian representative, Sigitas Migtus, in statements to the media. In the same way, the Swedish minister argued that the entry of new countries into the European club "is one thing" and that the discussion about Catalan "is another."

Berlin, which had already put obstacles in the way of the initiative, asked Spain for "a little more European spirit" when using the entry of new countries as a bargaining chip to "obtain better conditions." "I do not agree at all, because we have a responsibility towards this Europe," asserted the German minister, Gunther Krichbaum. The leader questions whether the Moncloa's request has anything to do with integration policy, and for this reason, he argues that "it should not block or stop the accession process."

The Spanish executive has defended before the rest of the member states that Catalan must be official before languages like Montenegrin or Albanian, which have far fewer speakers. "It is time to put an end to a discrimination that affects 20 million people," stressed the Spanish representative, Secretary Fernando Sampedro, in statements before the meeting. However, the number two of the Foreign Ministry avoided making the recognition of the languages a red line and limited himself to saying that he trusts they will be recognized "before other member states are incorporated."

Spain is putting this issue back on the table for the first time since the last debate among European ministers, in July 2025. This time, it coincides with the budget negotiations in Congress, in which Pedro Sánchez's government needs the support of the Catalan pro-independence parties.

The initiative for the recognition of the language arrives in Brussels without any path forward. In this Thursday's debate, the issue will not be put to a vote, nor will any binding decision be taken. The Sánchez executive will limit itself to presenting its vision to the rest of the partners, who will be able to contribute their arguments. But for it to be approved, the unanimous support of the Twenty-seven would first be required. A milestone that, at this moment, remains far off for the Moncloa.