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Albares sees' postponement tactics' in postponing the decision on the official status of the Basque Country in the EU

"Knowing that there are no technical arguments that can prevent this, I begin to wonder if there are no political reasons behind it, but sooner or later, without any doubt, we will overcome them," the Foreign Minister said in an interview on Radio Euskadi.

FOTODELDÍA Bruselas (Bélgica), 15/07/2025.- El ministro español de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación, José Manuel Albares Bueno (i), conversa con Tanja Fajon (d), viceprimera ministra y ministra de Asuntos Exteriores y Europeos de la República de Eslovenia, en un Consejo de Asuntos Exteriores del Consejo de la UE en Bruselas, Bélgica, el 15 de julio de 2025. EFE/ Olivier Matthys

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares today in Brussels.

The Spanish Government will continue to work with the countries that have asked for more time in the EU to achieve the official status of Basque, Catalan and Galician, but the Minister for Foreign Affairs, JoséManuel Albares , has said that 'one cannot say that he has doubts and then cannot say which ones or what reports he needs, but not ask for it, that is not legitimate, they are postponement tactics'.

The Spanish minister believes that it is not "technical arguments" that have led to a lack of agreement today. "That is a way to prolong an irreversible path," he has reproached.

"Knowing that there are no technical arguments that can prevent this, I begin to wonder if thereasons behind  are not political (reasons for the delay), but sooner or later, without any doubt, we will overcome them, "the minister said in an interview on Radio Euskadi, hours after the States of the European Union again postponed the vote on the officiality of Catalan, Basque and Galician, due to the lack of consensus necessary to accept the request.

Jose Manuel Albares Atzerri ministroa

You can't say you have doubts, and then you can't say which or which reports you need, but don't ask.

The minister has pointed out that he cannot includein his mind the existence of political parties "that are contrary to the languages" contained in the Spanish Constitution.

He explains that in Europe 'some states have asked us for more time to take the initiative unanimously, and the truth is there is no real argument' behind the doubts raised by some countries.

"I do not see why, a decision that does not affect anyone, except Spain, and its national identity, being multilingual, cannot succeed," added the minister, who called on all the Spanish political forces, in particular the PP, to talk to the "fraternal parties" in Europe.

On the other hand, Albaras has valued theletter   from the President, Imanol Pradales, and the President of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, to ask the Member States of the European Union to guarantee the official status of Catalan, Basque and Galician, and has been surprised that the President of the Xunta de Galicia did not join the initiative.

"I would love to see his signature there" because "Galician is a language that deserves to be official in Europe and not just to ask for a vote in the elections in the villages there," he added.

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