Spain and Germany Launch Talks to Recognize Catalan, Basque, and Galician as EU Official Languages
Spain and Germany have agreed to start negotiations to recognize Catalan, Basque, and Galician as official EU languages, advancing Spain's multilingual national identity agenda amid political tensions.
- • Spain and Germany agree to start bilateral talks to recognize Catalan, Basque, and Galician as official EU languages.
- • The initiative is crucial to Spain's multilingual identity and domestic political stability, especially for Junts.
- • Previous attempts failed due to legal and political opposition, primarily from Germany and Italy.
- • Foreign Ministries of both countries will lead discussions and prepare a proposal for EU member states.
Key details
Spain and Germany have agreed to initiate formal negotiations aimed at securing official recognition for Catalan, Basque, and Galician within the European Union. This joint decision, announced on October 24, 2025, comes amid significant domestic political tensions in Spain, particularly involving the pro-independence party Junts and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Both nations emphasize the importance of acknowledging Spain's multilingual national identity through this initiative.
The dialogue will be conducted by the Foreign Ministries of Spain and Germany, who are tasked with drafting a proposal for presentation to all 27 EU member states at a future Council of General Affairs meeting. This move signals a breakthrough after previous failed attempts owing to legal concerns and opposition from several EU countries, including Germany, which had stood as the principal obstacle to the recognition initiative until now.
The agreement follows mounting pressure from Junts, whose threats to break coalition ties with Sánchez have escalated calls for official EU language recognition. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reaffirmed his commitment to meeting these obligations, framing the recognition of these regional languages as crucial for political stability and cultural identity.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged the complexity of providing language services at the EU level, suggesting that technological advancements may alleviate these challenges in the future. Improvements in Spain-Germany relations have been pivotal in reaching this breakthrough. The joint statement published in Brussels highlights the bilateral commitment to preserving linguistic diversity and preparing Spain's language recognition proposal for EU-wide consideration.
This development marks a significant step in Spain’s ongoing efforts to promote Catalan, Basque, and Galician languages on the European stage, reflecting both political pragmatism and cultural preservation.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.