Brussels – On July 18, the European Union’s General Affairs ministers will engage in an “exchange of views” concerning the potential recognition of Catalan, Galician, and Basque as official EU languages. This topic was proposed by Spain for adoption, but the current rotating presidency, held by Denmark, prefers to frame it as a discussion without a definitive decision.
The agenda, set at the ambassadorial level, categorizes the issue as an “exchange of views.” This contrasts with the previous approach in May, when Spain sought to adopt it officially but later withdrew the request due to insufficient support for an initiative requiring unanimous agreement from the 27 EU member states.
European sources have indicated to Europa Press that the presidency decided to treat the official status matter as an informational point after several delegations expressed concerns during last week’s ambassadorial meeting in preparation for the upcoming General Affairs Council.
Notably, the regulations allow Spain to independently request a vote on the Council’s decision. Therefore, an “asterisk” is included in the agenda beside the discussion statement, indicating that it remains a topic “on which a vote can be requested.”
Second Discussion This Year
The upcoming meeting will mark the second time this year that the status of the Spanish co-official languages is raised at the ministerial level in Brussels. Following Spain’s initial request for adoption in May, the vote was postponed due to a lack of consensus among member states.
During prior ambassadorial discussions and the May ministerial meeting, it became evident that consensus is still lacking, with several delegations deeming it premature to voice an opinion on an issue that has not seen substantial debate among the 27 states. Concerns regarding its legal compatibility and potential economic impact also persist.
Spain has presented a proposal, obtained by Europa Press, suggesting that Catalan, Basque, and Galician receive official status in the EU starting in 2027, albeit with partial implementation. By that time, only Council and European Parliament regulations would be translated, which accounted for less than 3% of all legal acts in the last legislature.
To address apprehensions regarding the financial implications, Spain proposes to cover all associated costs, differing from the current treatment of official EU languages, though it has not provided specific figures.
The matter re-emerges on the agenda for the first General Affairs Council (CAG) coordinated by Denmark, which recently assumed the rotating EU presidency. Spain’s Minister José Manuel Albares has conferred with his Danish counterpart and Secretary of State for the EU, Fernando Sampedro, regarding this initiative. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Spain has received support from Denmark and has requested to advance this topic in the upcoming CAG for a decision.
Concerns from the Danish Presidency
Sources cited by Europa Press reveal that the Danish presidency harbors “doubts” about listing the issue for adoption again, as at least six delegations expressed reservations during the ambassadorial agenda discussions. However, it is noted that it is uncommon for a rotating presidency to ignore a formal request from a member state.
Spain’s initial endeavor to secure official status for the languages in 2023 — part of the agreements between PSOE and Junts for Pedro Sánchez’s investiture — also faced delays for further analysis within Council working groups, which did not progress, leading Madrid to pursue bilateral agreements directly with EU capitals.
The lack of a comprehensive cost assessment poses another challenge; a preliminary Brussels estimate suggests the measure could cost around 132 million annually, based solely on Gaelic experience. Legal services have also raised concerns about whether changes to language regulations could proceed without a Treaty reform. Although the Council’s legal opinion is not binding, many delegations are hesitant to move forward without its endorsement. (July 9)
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