A harsh analysis of linguistic immersion is the common thread of the draft report of the European Parliament's Petitions Committee. The text, which is presented this Wednesday and is not definitive, comes two months after the visit of nine MEPs from the commission chaired by the popular Dolors Montserrat to Catalonia to analyze this model, responding to several complaints, including that of the Assembly for a Bilingual School. The report indicates in its recommendations that “Catalonia should give the same treatment to Spanish and Catalan as languages in education.”
The visit of the delegation was already accompanied by controversy, since the PSOE and the pro-independence formations considered that the agenda designed was “partial.” The socialist MEP chose not to attend. The conclusions and recommendations of the draft, which is not binding, are compelling. It is indicated that families who request additional teaching in Spanish face attitudes that make them fear an increase in “hate speech”, it is highlighted that the sentences are not applied – in relation to teaching in Spanish of 25% – and, Furthermore, it is regretted that during its visit the delegation was rebuked.
In this context, in addition to calling for equivalent teaching in Catalan and Spanish, it is recalled that the EU treaties reject any “discrimination” on linguistic grounds. The European Commission is asked to “closely monitor” whether cultural and linguistic diversity is “respected” in Catalonia and to include the considerations in the next report on the rule of law. Spanish authorities are also asked to supervise the Catalan education system and review the inspection system.
The draft prepared by the MEPs, in a delegation with hardly any representation from the left, also indicates that the TSJC ruling is not being applied in Catalonia, which is why it urges respect for the law.
With an eye on families who demand more teaching in Spanish, the draft estimates that they risk social exclusion and, in some cases, “intimidation and bullying.” “We condemn, in fact, that they have been victims of hate speech,” he adds.
The representatives of the petitions commission demand that this report be sent, among other institutions, to the Constitutional Court. In a general context, the debate on the official status of Catalan in the EU must be taken into account.
