Home Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ

As a Catalan, I have always defended, I still defend, and I will always defend the inclusion of Catalan geographical indications (GIs) in all free trade agreements (FTAs), trade partnerships, trade associations that the Union promotes with third countries. In fact, I have been making as many amendments as possible on this. But as a Catalan exile, with my two companions also being exiles, and with friends and former members of the Catalan Government in jail as political prisoners, it would not be coherent to vote in favour of any trade opening to third countries that, like the People's Republic of China, keep political prisoners, exiles, is continuously persecuting political dissidents, and has a new authoritarian agenda throughout the globe. When it comes to human rights and trade, I will always put human rights and democracy first. Fair trade conditions cannot be separated from democratic rights. The EU must prioritize agreements with other democracies.