"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 official EU 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 at the Council, which lasted only seven minutes, to reply to the Spanish executive, as diplomatic sources explained to the 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 it comes to using the entry of new countries as a bargaining chip to "obtain better conditions." "I do not agree with it 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 argued 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 between European ministers in July 2025. This time, it coincides with the budget negotiations in Congress, where Pedro Sánchez's government needs the support of Catalan pro-independence parties.

The initiative for the recognition of the language was already arriving in Brussels without much momentum. In this Thursday's debate, the issue was not put to a vote, nor was any binding decision taken. Sánchez's executive limited itself to presenting its vision to the rest of the partners. 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.

Also from the Palau de la Generalitat, they defend Spain's action in the EU. "There had never been such a forceful and persistent action for Galician, Basque, and Catalan in the European sphere. No government had ever put so much pressure on European institutions," defended the Government spokesperson, Sílvia Paneque. However, the Minister of Territory also acknowledged that, for the moment, there are some countries that "show doubts about this issue" and which "have not been able to be convinced".