Sánchez Faces Setbacks in Catalan Co-officiality Bid at EU
Sánchez struggles to secure German support for Catalan language co-officiality in the EU.
- • Sánchez's efforts to gain German support for Catalan co-officiality have failed.
- • Chancellor Olaf Scholz firmly opposes the proposal.
- • The issue reflects broader tensions in EU language policy.
- • Negotiations for Catalan language rights continue amid uncertainty.
Key details
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has encountered significant challenges in his efforts to gain support for Catalan language co-officiality in the European Union. Despite lobbying for backing, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany has reportedly expressed strong opposition to the proposal. On September 19, 2025, Sánchez’s efforts were stated to be insufficient in convincing Germany to advocate for co-official status, illustrating the complexities of multilingual recognition within the EU framework.
Analysts have noted that Germany's reluctance highlights broader tensions regarding language policy and regional identities in the Union, suggesting that Spain’s political landscape must overcome both external and internal obstacles to advance regional language rights.
Previously, Sánchez had emphasized the linguistic and cultural importance of Catalan for the EU, arguing that its recognition would enhance unity and representation. However, the German stance appears firm, with commentators suggesting that this reflects a lack of political maturity regarding regional languages.
As negotiations continue, the prospects for Catalan co-officiality remain uncertain, pending further discussions among member states. The situation underscores ongoing debates about language rights and regional autonomy within the EU framework.