MADRID — In a significant development, Britons and other foreign nationals may soon be required to demonstrate proficiency in Catalan to obtain residency in the affluent northeastern region of Spain. This potential requirement comes after the Spanish government reached an agreement on migration controls with the nationalist party, Junts per Catalunya.
On Tuesday, Spain’s ruling Socialist government announced the conclusion of a deal that will transfer certain migration control responsibilities to the Catalan regional government. This agreement fulfills a long-standing request from the pro-independence Junts party, but it has also sparked outrage among right-wing factions, leading to protests across the country.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who leads a minority coalition government, relies on the support of seven MPs from Junts to advance legislation. Under the new agreement, Catalonia’s Mossos d’Esquadra regional police will gain control of security measures at airports, ports, and other critical infrastructure, working in tandem with Spain’s national police forces.
Additionally, Catalonia will assume authority over migrant detention centers within its borders and is set to manage the deportation of undocumented migrants. A key aspect of the deal may require foreigners to prove their proficiency in Catalan to qualify for residency, reinforcing the belief that true integration necessitates knowledge of the local language. A spokesman for Junts emphasized, “If you don’t know the language of the land where you want to integrate, there is no real integration.”
Should this plan be adopted, Britons and other foreign nationals could face residency denials in Catalonia due to language barriers, while those residing in other parts of Spain might still obtain residency without being fluent in Spanish. Catalan, a language spoken by an estimated 10 to 12 million people, is prevalent in Catalonia, parts of southwestern France, Andorra, Sardinia, and has variations spoken in the Balearic Islands and Valencia.
How Catalan Compares to English and Spanish
English — Spanish — Catalan
- Hello — hola — hola
- Good morning — buenos días — bon dia
- Dog — perro — gos
- Beer — cerveza — cervesa
- Closed — cerrado — tancat
- Shop — tienda — botiga
- Open — abierto — obert
The political landscape is tense, with Junts leader Carles Puigdemont, currently in exile in Belgium, asserting that the agreement signifies a transfer of powers typically reserved for sovereign states. Puigdemont, who is still wanted by Spanish authorities for alleged embezzlement linked to the 2017 independence crisis, has threatened to withdraw Junts’ support for Sanchez’s government if tangible progress is not made in granting further powers to Catalonia.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the main opposition conservative People’s Party, criticized the deal as an “unprecedented humiliation” for Spain, warning that it will exacerbate inequality among Spaniards. The agreement now awaits approval from Spain’s parliament, where its passage is uncertain. The far-left party Podemos has already expressed its discontent with the deal, raising questions about whether its four lawmakers will support the bill, which is crucial for its successful passage.
