Vila: "Virtually no contributions from Junts and CUP have been rejected in the Pact for Language."

Francesc Xavier Vila (Esplugues de Llobregat, 1966) is the Minister of Language Policy and has been working on the National Pact for Language since 2021.

One of the Pact's goals is to gain 600,000 Catalan speakers. How is this achieved?

First, intensify, and second, expand. Until now, we've implemented policies that have allowed us to acquire new speakers, but not at the pace we need. Where we've made an average effort, we need to grow and invest many more resources, for example, in the Consortium for Linguistic Normalization. We also need to expand and change strategies. Until now, most learning has taken place in the classroom. It needs to leave the classroom and enter, for example, the world of work. People who move, people who emigrate, do so essentially for work. Therefore, we need the workplace to become a place of linguistic integration. And that means there must be Catalan language training accessible to companies, because that creates an environment that's a real-life environment.

Absolute figures are one thing, but percentages are another. In the survey of language usage, there are 267,000 new speakers, but the percentage decrease is four points.

Both figures explain reality. There isn't one that's good and one that's bad. With absolute figures, what we're saying is that instead of growing by 50,000 speakers each year, as we have done over the last five years, we need to grow by 100,000 speakers each year. If we grow in absolute figures, we will also grow in relative figures.

Is the problem more about the use of Catalan than about knowledge?

I don't much like separating these two notions. I work on three elements that help us better explain reality. On the one hand, there's knowledge, on the other, use, and on the other, identification. If I start learning a language, I won't be able to use it, but if I never use it, even if I start, my knowledge won't grow. Therefore, what we need is to set in motion this virtuous circle in which, if I start learning it, I also start using it, and if I use it, I'll learn it better.

Some entities that signed the pact consider it "insufficient" because it lacks concrete measures.

There are 206 measures for 2025. And they are so specific that a good portion have been budgeted.

Aim “The job has to be one of linguistic integration”

Have you negotiated with the PP?

We've tried to talk many times, but so far they haven't found the time to speak with me. However, their interventions, both in Parliament and in various appearances, have been very aggressive against any policy to promote the language. Therefore, the possibilities for reaching an agreement seem limited.

Junts and the CUP have distanced themselves from the pact and believe it was a false conclusion. Is it lacking in the absence of these two political actors?

The contributions from the CUP and Junts to the drafting of the pact have been numerous. I would say that virtually none of their contributions have been rejected. They have told us that they approve the actions and that if we bring them to Parliament, they can vote in favor of them. The CUP has told us that they do not believe it is appropriate to sign a pact that is not confrontational with the State. Junts has told us that they would prefer to postpone entering into the pact until they resolve a number of issues. But these issues are beyond our ability to resolve. Language is important enough for all of us to work together.

What topics?

We'll see what will be done once the Constitutional Court issues a ruling. I understand that it will happen by the time it arrives. The agreement states in measure 9.1 that Catalan is the normal language of instruction in the education system and for the reception of newly arrived students. And 9.4 states that changes to the model will be made by consensus. But no door is closed. We would be delighted if Junts and the CUP decided to join the agreement.

There is also the question of the official status of Catalan in Europe.

I fully agree that Catalan should be fully official in the European institutions. But I find it hard to understand why we have to wait for the various European Union governments, subject to their electoral processes, to decide when we can make agreements in Catalonia.

But does the official status of Catalan in the EU have any connection with the Pact?

Waiting for decisions that must be taken unanimously by the European Council is beyond the objective control of the Catalan people.

More support? "We've tried to talk to the People's Party (PP) many times, but so far they haven't found the time."

Therefore, do you think JxCat's rejection of the pact is more politically motivated than substantive?

I haven't received any content motivations.

This pact began in the previous term, and you were part of that government. Now you're part of an executive with a different political persuasion. Have you noticed any differences in the dialogue with Junts?

Junts has told us that the situation and context were different and, therefore, that the approach to the pact was different.

How is the Government working to ensure the language's official status in the European Union?

Negotiations are being conducted at the state level. But the Government is active on all fronts, and we closely monitor the negotiations. However, since this is a diplomatic matter, we are proceeding with the utmost care and discretion. The only thing that would be lacking is interference or discord.

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Has it taken a long time to sign the National Pact for Language?

It's been intense. There have been several election campaigns in between. It hasn't been excessive given the scale of the challenge.

Are any political parties or entities expected to join in the coming weeks?

The pact will be open and open to several directions. We want local governments and municipalities to be included, because one of the lines of work is for them to implement more language policies.