Detention of top officials of the Regional Government of Catalonia

27.9.2017

Question for written answer E-006000-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ernest Urtasun (Verts/ALE) , Marina Albiol Guzmán (GUE/NGL) , Xabier Benito Ziluaga (GUE/NGL) , Javier Couso Permuy (GUE/NGL) , Francesc Gambús (PPE) , Tania González Peñas (GUE/NGL) , Paloma López Bermejo (GUE/NGL) , Florent Marcellesi (Verts/ALE) , Maria Lidia Senra Rodríguez (GUE/NGL) , Jordi Solé (Verts/ALE) , Josep-Maria Terricabras (Verts/ALE) , Estefanía Torres Martínez (GUE/NGL) , Ramon Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE) , Miguel Urbán Crespo (GUE/NGL) , Ángela Vallina (GUE/NGL) , Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (ALDE)

The Civil Guard detained 12 top officials of the Catalan Regional Government during the morning of 20 September 2017 and searched the offices of five government departments in a police operation to prevent the referendum called by the Regional Government for 1 October 2017 from being held. The Spanish Government has embarked upon an authoritarian offensive against civil liberties and civil rights, in contravention of the separation of powers and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. It is using criminal law and the police to tackle a political problem. In attacking institutions belonging to Catalan citizens, these measures constitute a gradual move towards interference in the Regional Government’s autonomy.

Democracy and dialogue should prevail here as the way to resolve a conflict that is political at heart.

1. What steps will the Commission take regarding this shift by the Spanish Government towards authoritarian and repressive action?

2. Does the Commission plan to launch an infringement procedure for breach of the EU’s fundamental rights?