The European Union “cannot allow itself to be naïve or divided.” With these terms, the ‘Conseller’ of the European Union and Foreign Action of the Government of Catalonia, Jaume Duchhas called on the club of 27 to take a position in the face of a world increasingly agitated by the logic of “the law of the strongest” that they advocate Donald Trump from USA y Vladimir Putin from Russia.
“The UE It is not a finished or irreversible work, even less so in this new, more uncertain world, which is changing before our eyes and which affects fundamental pillars such as democracyfair trade based on standards or international relations based on law, territorial integrity and the sovereignty of states,” he indicated during the Forum Europa Tribuna Catalunya, held this Monday at the Avenida Palace hotel in Barcelona.
In a global situation shaken by growing geopolitical turbulence, Duch has called on Europe to defend the international law. In this scenario, he assessed, the expansion of the community project “has an even more important geostrategic value.”
A military ship in waters near Greenland’s capital, Nuuk. / AP
Asked about Trump’s threats to Greenlandthe ‘counseller’ has ruled out that Washington opt for armed force to take control of the strategic island belonging to Denmark and has pointed out that Brussels must be open to negotiating a strategy to strengthen Arctic security as long as it is done within the framework of the I’LL TAKE.
In relation to the guerra unleashed by him Kremlin in Ukrainewhich turns four years old in February, has warned that any agreement of paz must consider the interests of Kiev and the EU.
More union
Four decades after Spain entered the EU, Duch has claimed the community project as an engine to “modernize the country.” Now ask for one Europa more autonomous, politically united, that is committed to strategic autonomy – the ability to reduce external dependence to have its own decision in strategic fields such as energy o to technology— and for “moral rearmament to consolidate its democratic solidity.”
The minister also advocates deepening the internal market and eliminating the barriers “that prevent us from being as competitive as we would need”, finalizing the banking union and streamlining the decision-making mechanism “to get rid of unanimity as something obligatory.” Thus, Duch has coincided with the veteran politician and lawyer Miquel Roca Junyentwho at the start of the day warned that needing the vote of the 27 to act “leads to the paralysis of the European project”, which accentuates the “identity crisis” that, in his opinion, the EU is suffering.
General view of the chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (France). EFE/ Lucía Leal / LUCÍA LEAL / EFE
Duch has claimed that to “defend Europe” it is crucial for Member States to be “more ambitious” and mobilize a community budget with “more resources” to promote strategic sectors in which “we are lagging behind” such as semiconductors. “If we don’t do it, we won’t be able to compete with USA y China“, he warned, confident that the EU “can play a role” of influence and even leadership in the new international scenario. This defense, the ‘minister’ stressed, is inexcusable: “The EU is our plan A and we do not have a plan B.”
Catalonia’s plan
During his speech at the Forum Europa Tribuna Catalunya, Duch announced that the Generalitat is working on a new “country” plan to guide Catalan foreign action for the coming years. Its intention is to open up to other countries beyond the European continent, including China. Although he has confirmed that the Executive is working on opening a delegation in the Asian giant, he has not specified when it will be activated.
According to Duch, Catalonia can help strengthen the EU’s influential role as guarantor of international law and humanitarian aid. That is why he has reported that he has already “held informal conversations” so that Catalonia can host some of the international organizations of the HIM that have been diminished by the “repression” of countries like the US. “Catalonia is a supportive country that is committed to aiding development,” indicated the ‘counsellor’.
The president of the Generalitat, Savior Illa, with the councilors / Rubén Moreno / Government
In reference to the status of Catalan in the EU, Duch has assured that both the Government of Spain and the Generalitat are working to have it recognized as an official language, although it is an issue that does require the approval of the 27, a unanimity that requires “a lot of pedagogy” among the member states.
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