Confiscation of yellow shirts at the Spanish Cup final

25.4.2018

Question for written answer E-002297-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Javier Couso Permuy (GUE/NGL)

Fans entering Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium for the Spanish Cup final had any ‘Estelada’ flags and yellow shirts and scarves — considered symbols of the Catalan independence movement and brandished by Catalan nationalists — confiscated by national police.

These orders undoubtedly came not from the police but from the Spanish Government, which launched this ‘preventive operation’ to curtail the free expression of supporters of finalists Barcelona, deeming such expressions to be an affront to the King, who was at the match.

This crackdown by the Spanish police and Spanish Government is a violation of the right to freedom of expression and a breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

1. What will the EU do about this government crackdown on its citizens’ freedom of expression and breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in an EU member state?

2. Will the EU defend its citizens’ freedom of expression?