Catalan and Basque separatist groups in TE-SAT (2023) – EU Commission answer

See question(s) : P-002081/2023

EN
P-002081/2023
Answer given by Ms Johansson on behalf of the European Commission
(1.8.2023)

The Commission takes note of the EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT), reporting on the ‘often unclear delineation between left-wing extremists and separatists in the Basque region and Catalonia in Spain, particularly in terms of motivations of attacks’ and that ‘their narratives combine separatism with left-wing extremist views, focusing on messaging against the Spanish State and its institutions (…)’.

The Commission follows carefully all developments related to all forms of violent extremism and initiate actions, within the remit of its competences, where necessary. The Commission is currently supporting a ‘project-based collaboration’ on anti-system/antigovernment extremism. Spain is one of the participating Member States in this initiative aiming at providing guidance to policy makers and practitioners in Member States on how to best prevent violent extremist incidents carried out by anti system movements.

With regards to the listing of violent Catalan and Basque independence movements as terrorist organisations, the addition of organisations to the so-called ‘EU Terrorist List’¹ is subject to a unanimous Council decision. The Common Position 2001/931/CFSP² lays down the criteria for listing persons, groups or entities involved in terrorist acts. Only a national decision by a competent national authority such as a Court decision or a proscription order by an administrative authority decision can initiate the process of listing persons, groups or entities.