The European Commission has recently replied to a question raised by Spanish MEP Oriol Junqueras Vies (Greens/ALE) regarding the lack of implementation of the administrative arrangements signed between the Commission and Spain related to the translation of EC written communications in the Catalan language.
The MEP referred to the five administrative agreements concluded between Spain and the Council, the Committee of the Regions, the Commission, the Economic and Social Committee and the Ombudsman. He complained that in about 90% of cases, the clauses of these arrangements were not being complied with. Highlighting that Catalan is the 13th most spoken language in the EU, Mr Junqueras asked whether the Commission will widen the 2000 administrative arrangement with Spain in such a way that written communication with the Catalan public would take place directly in Catalan.
In its reply published on 23 April, the Commission recalled that the agreement entitled Spain to designate a competent body for making the translations. In 2006, the Spanish Permanent Representation was designated to carry out this mission and would have to transmit the Commission’s reply – together with a certified translation into Catalan – “as soon as possible”, as noted in the agreement. The Commission considers that this is a “practical and reasonable solution.”