In support of Oriol Junqueras & Raül Romeva

Dear Mr. President of the European Parliament,                             

Brussels, 07/6/2018

You are probably aware of the events that are happening in Catalonia since last September. The call for an independence referendum by the autonomous government and the response given to it by the Spanish government are having very serious personal consequences for two former Members of this house: Oriol Junqueras and Raül Romeva. Both are former MEPs of the Greens-EFA group and in the case of Raül, Member of the Former Members Association.

They, together with other members of the Catalan government, have been accused of the crimes of rebellion and embezzlement of public funds for convening and executing the referendum for independence on October 1^st; a mandate from their constituents. At this time, Oriol and Raül are in preventive detention awaiting trial, as well as other members of the government and two leaders of social movements. Some members of the government, with President Carles Puigdemont at the head, have taken the path of exile.

Regardless of the political assessment one can make of the Catalan process, it seems obvious that the imputed charges and precautionary measures taken against the members of the Catalan government are disproportionate. Remember that the court of the German land of Schleswig-Holstein has recently stated in denying the petition of extradition to Spain for the crime of rebellion of President Carles Puigdemont.

We believe that this Parliament, which aims to represent the people of Europe, can not be left out of the case of Oriol Junqueras and Raül Romeva. We ask the EP to take interest in the situation of Oriol and Raül, to make Spanish government aware of the concern of the EP because of their imprisonment and to demand the release of both until the trial is carried out and a judgment is issued.

We hope, Mr President, you’ll support our demands,

Jan Dhaene, former MEP, Belgium, Flanders

Brigitte Ernst, former MEP, Belgium, Wallonia

Per Gahrton, former MEP, Sweden

Angelika Beer, former MEP, Germany

Nikos Chrysogelos, former MEP, Greece

David Hammerstein, former MEP, Spain

HeideRühle, former MEP, Germany

Satu Hassi, former MEP, Finland

Inaki Irazabalbeitia Fernandez, former MEP, Spain, Basque country

Camilo Nogueira, former MEP, Spain, Galicia

Eva Quistorp, former MEP, Germany, Berlin

Gisela Kallenbach, former MEP, Germany

Birgit Daiber, former MEP, Italy

Monica Frassoni, former MEP, Italy

Patsy Sörensen, former MEP, Belgium, Flanders

Yves Frémion, former MEP, France

Marije Cornelissen, former MEP, Netherlands

Jordi Sebastià, former MEP, Spain, Valencia

Tatjana Zdanoka, former MEP, Latvia

Nelly Maes, former MEP, Belgium, Flanders

Eva Lichtenberger, former MEP, Austria

Didier Rod, formerMEP, France