It is with great concern that we respectfully submit the present Petition to the Members of the EU Parliament and to its President David Sassoli, in order to express our worry regarding the crisis in Catalonia and the response of the Spanish Kingdom, and call for measures susceptible of clarifying the situation and furthering its resolution.
Among the people signing the petition, there are some European citizens who voted for candidates, regularly elected, who cannot take up their seat in the EU parliament. We are referring to Carles Puigdemont, Oriol Junqueras and Antoni Comín. The right of two million people to have their elected representatives in the EU Parliament is not being respected and we formally complain about this and ask you to explain the reasons behind this.
Second, our preoccupation as citizens concerns the possibility of exercising basic rights in Spain. We would like to draw your attention to:
- The Statement issued on 21 October 2019 by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
- The report issued by Amnesty International on 19 November 2019 that asks for the immediate release of Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart and the quashing of their convictions on the charge of sedition.
- The report of the International Trial Watch, according to which the trial and the sentence of the Spanish Supreme Court Judgement 459/2019 against politicians and activists in Spain patently show massive violation of human rights.
Third, we would like to underline the insufficiency of the official response of the EU institutions, according to which the Catalan crisis is an internal matter of Spain; and as EU residents and European citizens, we ask you to act in accordance with European Treaties and call for the respect of the European Charter of Human Rights. After more than two years, the political crisis cannot be solved as long as Spanish Institutions do not ensure that people’s fundamental rights of freedom of expression and protest are protected. In particular, we want to observe that the Spanish State’s refusal to recognize the disproportionate use of force by the national police on 1 October 2017 largely contributes to hindering the reconciliation of more than 2 million citizens with the Spanish State. Official insistence on maintaining that the use of police force was proportionate has only led to the radicalization of positions and the empowerment of parties like VOX, which, according to a recent resolution of the EU Parliament, are to be considered as promoting the use of fascist and totalitarian symbols. We assume, of course, that the EU includes Francoism among the fascist regimes when issuing the 2019/2819(RSP) “Resolution on the importance of European remembrance for the future of Europe”. Given the widespread perception of the restriction of fundamental rights that encourage ever more radical forms of protest and a repressive response of the State, we feel urged to call on the EU Parliament to take action to ensure the respect of the most fundamental values and rights. The EU and its institutions would thereby prove that they can be a formidable tool in overcoming political controversies among and within States, without interfering with member States’ sovereignty.
In light of the abovementioned points, we ask MEPs to
- Discuss the Catalan crisis in the plenary of the EU Parliament. This should not necessarily lead to a resolution on topical subjects, but would certainly address the relevance of the Catalan case as the first example in history of an independence movement that has made of nonviolence a systematic method of protest in order to obtain a referendum asking for independence from an EU member State that was not an occupied territory during WWII. To our knowledge EU legislation does not cover a case like this, which is treated ambiguously by the Spanish State, at times as a problem of public order, at times as terrorism or a seditious activity bordering on illegality. This ambiguity must be resolved in order to make citizens aware of their rights when demonstrating in agreement with the European Charter of Human Rights.
- As EU and European citizens, we feel urged to ask our institutions questions about how they intend to deal with exceptional cases such as the present one, and to demand the development of new legislation in this regard. Therefore, we also ask MEPs to discuss the alleged violation of human rights in Spain during the plenary, and to formulate a resolution on topical subjects regarding this matter. This is necessary to show that there are no impediments to the free exchange of ideas and opinions among MEPs, in agreement with the fundamental rights of the European Charter of Human Rights. In this respect, we ask the President of the EU parliament, super partes with respect to National interests, to introduce this point in the most suitable session. A refusal even to discuss opinions and suggestions for a resolution in a plenary session will be taken as a worrying sign that reminds us of the dark times witnessed by Europe before WWII. Also, the fact that the EU Parliament issued resolution 2019/2732(RSP) on the Hong Kong crisis in favour of the protesters’ rights raises serious questions about the reasons why the EU would use with regard to Hong Kong citizens a treatment it considers not applicable to EU citizens, in particular of those living in Catalonia. If a resolution on the Catalan crisis is not formulated, we formally ask the EU parliament to make clear why the points referring to the necessary respect of human rights approved in the Hong Kong resolution cannot be applied in the Catalan case, and to make these reasons public. In particular, we ask MEPs to discuss and make clear whether there is a risk of human rights infringements with the recently issued Real Decreto-ley 14/2019 of 31 October 2019, to pronounce itself on whether it is compatible with the European Charter of Human Rights, and eventually explain how it differs from the measures condemned at point 11 of the 2019/2732(RSP).
- Launch a campaign of the Eurobarometer in Spain with the following questions: Would you like Spain to be a Republic? If yes, would you prefer it to assume a federal form?
The campaign must be done via the Eurobarometer because it is an impartial means through which we can collect data. It is fundamental in order to determine the percentage of people in Catalonia who support a republican form of government, and whether they represent a political minority in Spain to which the right to vote in a referendum is being denied.
We are confident that the EU Parliament will consider our petition and that it will act according to EU Treaties, International Law and the fundamental democratic values of our society, with a view to helping resolve a major crisis in a member State, and sustain the political empowerment of all EU citizens, which can only enhance the prosperity and freedoms that will be enjoyed by future generations.
Barcelona, 19 November 2019
Silvia De Bianchi, Italy
Harold Carl Hoefer, United States of America
Genoveva Martí Campillo, Spain
Fernando Vidal, Switzerland
Maciej Andrzej Lewenstein, Poland
Maria Pilar Dellunde Clavé, Spain
Xavier Roqué Rodríguez, Spain
Agustí Nieto-Galan, Spain
Joan Vergés Gifra, Spain
Francina Esteve, Spain
Michel Huysseune, Belgium
Roberto Cantoni, Italy
Alba Torrents, Spain
Anna Okopinska, Poland
Andrzej Turski, Poland
María José Martínez Villellas, Spain
Maria Mercè Arall Royo, Spain
Maria Mercè Subirana Duarte, Spain
Núria Torrats Arall, Spain
Elisabet Sitges i Roses, Spain
Raimon Ruiz Niell, Spain
Jan Wehr, Poland
Montserrat Coviella Rey, Spain
Josep Torrats Coma, Spain
Renato Tassella, Italy
Marina Casini, Italy
Miquel Guarro, Spain
Dafne Muntanyola, Spain
Maria Jose Tintoré Espuny, Spain
Nadine Abi-Saleh, Italy
Elisabet Torrats Arall , Spain
Susana Portillo, Spain
Andreu Blasco, Spain
Anna Sanpera, Spain
Marie Magarinos, France
Christine Francoise, France
Andrea Lapponi, Italy
Simon Bird, United Kingdom
Andrea Pili, Italy
Coral Navarro Correal, Spain
Omar Onnis, Italy
Francesco Aresti, Italy
Sebastiano Ghisu, Italy
Antonio Giuseppe Meloni, Italy
María Dolores Noel, Spain
Carles Saura, Spain
Costantino Pala, Italy
Gennaro Ferraiuolo, Italy
Davide Corriga, Italy
Magda Saura Carulla, Spain
Guillermina Lorenzo Corral, Spain
Matteo Murgia, Italy
Raffaella Paolessi, Italy
Stefano Portelli, Italy
Àngels Lazo, Spain
Mercè Pardo, Spain
Giuseppe Melis, Italy
Francesca Murgia, Italy
Daniele Amoroso, Italy
Alexandre Madurell de Otero, Spain
Fulvio Capitanio, Italy
Marc Ruiz, Spain
Enric Bou, United States of America
Cesare Minghini, Italy
Neus Ballbé, Spain
Gaetano Damiano, Italy
Anna Bosch Bastardes, Spain
Alberto Schiatti, Italy
Patrizio Rigobon, Italy
Rossella Selmini, Italy
Antoni Bragulat, Spain
Alessandro Corda, Italy
Dario Pederzani, Italy
Claudia Dauru, Italy
Laura Prat Bertrams, Netherlands
Rafel Hidalgo, Spain
Johannes Stumpf, Germany
Eva Juarros Daussà, Spain
Àngels Medrano, Spain
Maria Francesca Saibene, Italy
Jordi Vilalta Martínez, Spain
Joan Esteve Pujol, Spain
Lorenza Bettini, Italy
Antoni Orpinell Ros, Spain
Yago Viñas Soler , Spain
Xavier, Calvo, Spain
Peter Vives Batista, Netherlands
Sergi Lorente, Finland
Jacme Delmas, France
Sònia Manguillot, Spain
Mario Sans, Spain
Ghislaine Coronat, France
Anna Marín López, Spain
Víctor Herrero Pérez, Spain
Mariano Mastorgio, Italy
Audrey Lopez, United Kingdom
Marco Córdoba Holt, Spain
Raimondo Davide Donzel, Italy
Peter Stolc, Slovak Republic
Encarna Colado Velasco, Spain
Manel Carreras, Spain
Micaela Pesce, Italy
Norbert Utz, Germany
Marilisa De Palma, Italy
Francesco Salvadori, Italy
Matthias Krause, Germany
Catherine Mouchel Merino, France
Renzo Granzotto, Italy
Jakub Zakrzewski, Poland
Manel Berrocal Corredo, Spain
Eva Ferro Garcia, Spain
Alan Collins Rosell, United Kingdom
Federico Bertoldo, Italy
Jordi Cadilla i Falcó, Spain
Silvia Poll, Spain
Sandra Pascoal-Lima, Portugal
Muriel Botey, Spain
Chiara Colasanti, Italy
Michaela Klinkert, Germany
Irmela Schmidt, Germany
José Rodrigues Ribeiro, Portugal
Mercedes Valls Lolla, Spain
Pat Vila Armangué, Spain
Sal Mallen, Spain
Javier Samper Martinez, Spain
Peter Sire, United Kingdom
Roger Bach, Spain
Maria Bosch, United States of America
Assela Bosch, Spain
Carles Crespo, Spain
Simona Anichini, Italy
Carles Pelejero, Spain
Eduard Crispi, Spain
Wendy Slater, United Kingdom
Concepció Bou i Vilalta, Spain
Rafa Momplet, Spain
Ingeborg Kossmann, Germany
Javier Maldonado Pérez, Spain
Richard Huguet, Spain
Carme Andrade, Spain
Carles Padró-Solanet i Grau, Spain
Francina Serret, Spain
Francisca Sol, France
Joan de Gracia, Spain
Joan Prat de los Mozos, Spain
Emili Prats Llatse, Spain
David Matas, Spain
Angelina Llongueras, Spain
Mariame Dahir, Italy
Nuria Garcia, Spain
Jordi Picart i Barrot, Spain
Nadine David, France
Pedro Santos Sanz, Spain
Esteve Alfaras, Spain
Jaume Añé, Spain
Biel Cadilla, Spain
Emilia Vaquer Martínez, Spain
Georges Thierry, France
Joan Sebarroja, Spain
Joan Mondejar Riba, Spain
Carmen Jesús Hurtado, Spain
Erika Casajoana Daunert, Spain
Isabel Nágera, Spain
Isa Muxi, Spain
Gemma Colesanti, Italy
Jorge Canas Garcia, Spain
Francesca Ceriani, Italy
Maria Rosa Pujantell Plana, Spain
Francisco Ruiz, Spain
David Soto, Spain
Josep Maria Gil, Spain
Montserrat Gama, Spain
Elisabet Lasierra Farré, Spain
Auke Zeldenrust, Netherlands
Angels Jubert, Spain
Encarna Liarte, Spain
Virginia Pelejero, Spain
Carme Fageda, Spain
Antoni Mirabent Sala, Spain
Maria Esparbé, Spain
Rafael Guirado Martinez, Spain
Marek Trippenbach, Poland
Jaime Bernis, Belgium
Angels Duch Cahis, Spain
Manuel Armengou Basil, Spain
Marcel Salvatella Carcellé, Spain
Birgitta Baum, Germany
Montse Ullastres, Spain
Elena Torrecilla, Spain
María-Luisa Flegenheimer Pérez, Spain
Ana Montserrat Figueras Aviñó, Spain
Josep Maria Figueras, Spain
Pilar Castejon, Spain
Elena Giménez Rodríguez, Spain
Mercè Obiol, Spain
Joan Bertran Monfort, Spain
Merixtell Estiarte, Spain
Martí Benach, Spain
Ignasi Merino, Spain
Carles Montaner i Bonastre, Spain
Cristina Badal Lopez, Spain
Marc Torres Saura, Spain
Montse Guitart, Spain
Antonio Taulés Mases, Spain
Camil Franquesa, Spain
Margarida Casademunt, Spain
David Camargo, Spain
Pilar Morey, Spain
Laura Gisbert Reig, Spain
Angela Mèlich i Puig, Spain
Joan Coll Cuñat, Spain
Joan Pedret, Spain
Marissa Garcia Solà, Spain
Lidia Camps Castanyer, Spain
Genis Pujal, Spain
Montserrat Feixas, Spain
Santiago Roman Guimaraes, Spain
Xavier Mayench Ballesté, Spain
Marc Rafart, Spain
Silvia Rojas Caellas, Spain
Santiago Bonet, Spain
Josep Maria Farrés, Spain
Jaume Sala, Spain
Irma Helou, France
Assumpta Pares Casas, Spain
Paolo Bracciali, Italy
Jaume Pujol-Galceran, Spain
Ricard Pla Boada, Spain
Xavier Fité i Marina, Spain
Rossano Bibalo, Italy
Dolors Muñoz Díaz, Spain
David Mortara, Italy
Àngels Arrufat, Spain
Jean Louis Vinson, France
Mercè Colet, Spain
Gemma Junyent Camp, Spain
Magda Cano Roca, Spain
Andrea Bonfante, Italy
Maria Andaluz, Spain
Sergi Pascual i Pich, Spain
Marta Marly, Spain
Maria Ortis, Spain
Margarita Sauné Castillo, Spain
Eva Angeles López, Spain
Anna Custodi Bernadet, Spain
Lluïsa Garcia, Spain
Teresa Escobet, Spain
Adriano Raddi, Italy
Núria Oliver, Spain
Esther Pardo Pérez, Spain
Montserrat Farràs Oliveras, Spain
Josep Miquel Girart, Spain
Clara Biosca Rovira, Spain
Conxita Muñoz Puigmitjà, Spain
Alfred Calvache, Spain
Jordi Bancells, Spain
Maria Capsada i Palomas, Spain
Josep Maria Moncau crispi, Spain
Olga Amargant, Spain
Roser Tarres Masnou, Spain
Teresa Sabria Pau, Spain
Jaume Vall Capdevila, Spain
Imma Ollich Castanyer, Spain
Rosa Garcia Garcia, Spain
Mercedes Marquez Marsol, Spain
Pilar Gil Lozano, Spain
Elena Pagni, Italy
Imma Casajoana Viladelprat, Spain
Elisabet Iglesias Masip, Spain
Andrea Zedda, Italy
Roser Pesquer, Spain
Marina Barull Lloret, Spain
Josep Sole, Spain
Silvia Vivé, Spain
Albert Compta, Spain
Àlvar Vinacua, Spain
Àngela Nebot, Spain
Pedro Muñoz, Spain
Pepa Gall, Spain
Elisabet Escalé, Spain
Iwan Cadoret, France
Carme Albareda Costa, Spain
Jordi Nadal Tersa, Spain
Joan-Manuel Soriano-López, Spain
Mònica Benguerel, Spain
Lluís Pesquer, Spain
M. Eulàlia Subirà, Spain
Joan Giralt Duran, Spain
Anna Raddi, Italy
Carme Duran, Spain
Consuelo Laccu, Italy
Montserrat Izquierdo, Spain
Franco Appetiti, Italy
Bella Obici, Italy
Joan Josep Carmona Domènech, Spain
Joan Martínez Serra, Spain
Jaume Aguadé, Spain
Ricard Godia Balauder, Spain
Montserrat Garcia Torner, Spain
Manel Escobet, Spain
Marcel Urigüen, Andorra
Michael Thiel, Germany
David Moriña Soler, Spain
Roser Gorchs Altarriba, Spain
Joan Girbau – Badó, Spain
Immaculada Massana Hugas, Spain
Carlos Armenteros Lopez, Spain
Teresa Cabré, Spain
Joachim Kock, Denmark
Aureli Alabert, Spain
Thorsten Puelm, Germany
Josep Fernandez, Spain
Joaquim Roé Vellvé, Spain
Benito Daza, Spain
Ramon Costa, Spain
Lluis Matamala, Spain
Daniel Crespo Artiaga, Spain
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