Spain asks EU parliament to make Catalan its first regional language
July 28, 2022, 8:10 am

Spain asks EU parliament to make Catalan its first regional language

Catalan, known in the Valencian Community and Carche as Valencian, is a Western Romance language derived from Vulgar Latin - Photo. Pixabay

The Spanish government said on Wednesday (July 27) it will ask the European Parliament to consider allowing the use of Catalan in the chamber, in what would be a first for a European regional language, the US news reported, citing Reuters.

The Catalan regional and central governments said in a joint statement that Madrid will present to the Parliament's board in Brussels a "technically and financially viable" proposal and work to gather a majority among the board's members to support the change, with the aim of getting it approved before year-end.

Spain will extend the request to be used at the parliament for its the other two official regional languages, Basque and Galician, if their regional governments ask for it.

A parliament spokesperson said, in order for a language to be declared official, it is necessary for the government of an EU member state to request it expressly and to receive unanimous approval from the EU Council.

Catalan is widely spoken in Catalonia, along with Spanish, and is also used with certain variations in two nearby regions. Its use was suppressed during General Francisco Franco's 1939-1975 dictatorship in Spain.

Catalonia is bordered by France and Andorra to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the autonomous community of Valencia to the south, and the autonomous community of Aragon to the west - Photo. Pixabay

Catalonia's separatist government is on a drive to protect and promote the use of Catalan following several recent legal battles in courts by citizens and groups seeking to curb its use in public schools.

Spain approves reform to immigration laws making it easier for foreigners to work

The plan to approach the European Parliament for permission to use it there was announced after talks with the Spanish leftist coalition government, which has taken a more conciliatory approach to the separatists than its conservative predecessor.

There are currently 24 official languages in the European Parliament and any new language would imply significant additional translation requirements.

Catalan nationalist parties have long pushed for the language's use in European institutions.

Spain announces free train travel from September till December

They argue that the northeastern Spanish region has a higher population - over seven million people - than EU countries such as Denmark, Croatia and Slovenia, whose national languages are used in the bloc's parliament.

The report noted that Spain will also look to extend the use of Catalan in the chamber of its national Senate, Spain's presidency minister Felix Bolanos told a media briefing after the announcement.

Source: usnews

Biden tests negative following coronavirus diagnosis; will address reporters in-person Tens of thousands of dollars found at Argentina dump

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”