Subject: Commisioner Reynders meeting with Spanish organization with ties to the far-right
On 9 December Commissioner Reynders met with the Spanish organization Societat Civil Catalana (SCC) to discuss the political situation of Catalonia!. This self-proclaimed “civic platform” created in 2014 to oppose the independence movement in Catalonia is in fact far from being the grass-roots movement it purports to be. It was founded and financed by politicians and important businesses with
the specific goal of generating the appearance of a popular mobilization against the independence of Catalonia. SCC is not even registered in the EU Transparency Register and has never been open about its accounts and annual activity reports.
More worryingly, SCC close ties with the Spanish far-right are well documented3. Vox MEP Buxadé is one of its founding members. Another of its finding members, Mr Javier Barraycoa, held the presentation of his book in the headquarters of a neonazi party. SCC founding president, Mr Bosch, uploaded videos of far-right ideological content under a pseudonym and attended a commemoration of Franco’s coup. Representatives of Fundación Francisco Franco and of racist and neonazi parties
often attend SCC’s events.
What was the purpose of the meeting?
What are the criteria for deciding which organizations can meet with a Commissioner?
Does the Commission approve of its members meeting with organizations with ties to far-right movements?
