Romania supports recognition of Catalan, Basque, and Galician as official EU languages

Romania stands alongside several EU member states in supporting Spain's initiative to recognize Catalan, Basque, and Galician as official languages of the European Union. This commitment highlights Romania's dedication to multilingualism and cultural diversity within the EU.

The proposal for these languages has gained backing from Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, and Slovenia. Croatia has also expressed a willingness to not oppose the measure, provided that the EU Council's competent services deem Spain's request justified.

Currently, the EU recognizes 24 official languages, and this proposal has been a topic of discussion since August 2023, when Spain's leftist government officially requested the status change. Approximately 10 million people speak Catalan, 2.4 million speak Galician, and 800,000 speak Basque, all of which already hold official or semi-official status in certain regions of Spain.

However, the path to adoption is uncertain. Germany, Finland, Sweden, France, and Austria have either opposed the proposal or expressed reservations. The last discussion regarding official languages was in May 2025, but no vote took place due to the reservations of ten countries.

The Council's legal service is currently evaluating the proposal and has suggested that its validation may require amendments to EU treaties. Additionally, the European Commission has estimated that the cost of necessary translations in these languages could reach around 132 million euros annually, a cost that Spain has pledged to cover.

Despite the support from various nations, the right-wing opposition in Spain remains against the government's proposal, showcasing the complexities surrounding this important cultural initiative.