The Catalan government has criticised the European Union’s international voice as “sometimes timid,” urging the bloc to adopt a clearer, more unified position on the world stage, especially concerning the escalating Middle East conflict.
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Speaking at a Tuesday press conference, government spokesperson Sílvia Paneque supported the Spanish central government’s call for more “courage” in international diplomacy. Her remarks, made after an Executive Council meeting at the Palau de la Generalitat, highlight growing impatience with the EU’s often fragmented response to geopolitical crises.
“It is no secret that different European Union member states have expressed divergent positions,” Paneque stated. She referenced reactions to Middle East events following a recent attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, highlighting the bloc’s internal divisions.
Paneque argued that the EU must project strength through a single, consensual position, a sentiment aligning with recent high-level European discussions. While the EU has publicly urged restraint in the region, achieving a truly unified policy among its 27 members proves a significant challenge for its External Action Service.
Catalonia Prepares for Economic Fallout
In direct response to growing instability, Paneque announced that the Generalitat de Catalunya has formed an interdepartmental working group. This group will monitor and analyse the conflict’s effects on the region. The economic impact remains difficult to estimate; consequently, the government will await a full diagnosis from this group before committing specific funds to mitigate the consequences.
This proactive measure comes as Catalan business leaders express growing fears about the potential toll on small and medium-sized enterprises. These businesses are particularly vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and energy price volatility. Furthermore, the move follows calls from opposition groups, with Junts per Catalunya recently arguing that the Catalan budget is already outdated and requires revision to address the new geopolitical reality.
“We must assess this impact, this diagnosis, and then design policies-some for immediate action, others for the medium and long term. Once the economic dimension is clear, we will allocate the necessary resources,” Paneque explained, as first reported by the news agency Europa Press.
Diplomatic Channels Active
The focus on international affairs coincided with a significant diplomatic meeting in Barcelona. On Tuesday afternoon, President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, was scheduled to meet with the United States Ambassador to Spain, Benjamin Leon Jr. Paneque noted that the meeting had been planned for some time to “explore avenues of economic progress.”
“This follows the president’s dynamic, which he set out from the beginning, of having an international agenda both in terms of travel and in receiving different ambassadors,” she added.
While Paneque, in her dual role as Minister for Territory, Housing, and Ecological Transition, addressed global concerns, her domestic portfolio continues to draw attention. For instance, the regional opposition recently criticised the government’s approach to housing policy as a “populist laboratory.” This highlights the multiple fronts on which the Catalan government is currently engaged.
