What are Catalan communities abroad?

The presence of Catalan in the world, now more than 120 countries, is part of the history of Catalan society where migration is, has been and will be a constant behavior. Des the 1840 was founded, a L’Havana, Charitable Society of Natural Catalonia, the Association of Catalan emigration oldest created the world, or from the Catalan Center was created in Montevideo 1881, Catalan communities abroad have been grouped in various clubs and organizations, first in America and, later, in Europe and elsewhere.

The major economic migration to America since the eighteenth century and exile derived from the Civil War years 30 and 40 in return, they strengthened the ties between Catalans and groups from different nations and cultures.. In these circumstances, new groups emerged in many countries Catalan. These historical facts, Following the economic migratory movements towards Europe, America and Australia for years 50 and 60 still insufficiently studied, and they also encourage the creation of new entities. Currently witnessing a migration result, mostly, Mobility business, commercial, scientific, university and the large presence of Catalans in international organizations and NGOs, which continues to favor the creation of Catalan organizations around.

This has resulted in a culturally plural Exterior Catalonia, socially, linguistically and economically, with quite different personal and collective stories and also plural interests. A set of experiences and situations that FIEC (International Federation of Associations Catalan, which is part of the Catalan Center Luxembourg) shall ensure to represent and defend the world against the Catalan institutions and trying to raise awareness of the benefits and obligations that this entails diversity of Catalonia Exterior. Catalan communities abroad have, throughout their history, a decisive contribution to the projection of the language and culture, national identity and inalienable historical rights of the Catalan people. At the same time profoundly enriched the cultural aspects, economic or scientific to the respective host societies.

Today Catalan Centers around the world continue to be a valuable representation of the voice and presence throughout Catalonia. Often with few means, various Catalan communities around the world have kept, intense activity, others, the cultural, commercial, dissemination of the Catalan language, etc.

the Law 18/1996, from 27 December, relations with Catalan communities abroad

The recognition from the Catalan institutions which are Catalan communities abroad is the first preceding year 1931 when the Government appointed a delegate of the Ministry of Culture in Cuba and Central America, when the 1936 Supporting Buenos Aires, unofficial newspaper of the Catalan Government intended to inform the Catalan colony of Argentine society and the course of the war and, he 1936, when the Minister of Culture officially incorporated in the network of libraries of the Generalitat Catalan Casal of Buenos Aires and the Catalan centers in Santiago, Chile, Mendoza and L'Havana. In order to establish official bodies representing the relationship between Catalonia and to the presidency of the Generalitat Catalan communities, Delegations were created officially Catalan America, by decree of the president Josep Irla, he 1950 and chaired by Josep Tarradellas, we instituted by decree, he 1956, Figure Delegates of the Government in America.

After the restoration of the Generalitat 1977, there was no immediate continuity with the policy. traditionally, the attitude of the government, and Catalan society in general, has been away and ignorance regarding the reality of Catalonia Exterior. A significant change in this attitude led to the approval, unanimously by all political parties present in the Parliament of Catalonia, late 1996, Law 18/1996, from 27 December, from relations with Catalan communities abroad completed by Regulation 118/1998, from 26 May 1998.

The first claims to be a law of this nature had been exposed to the Meeting of Casals Catalans in the world 1990. This law gave, for the first time in history, formal and legal recognition of the Catalan presence in the world. Rights and obligations are recognized and there is the framework from which are considered official and institutional relations between Catalonia Catalonia Interior and Exterior. This law establishes a fundamental principle, widely felt throughout the Catalonia Exterior: to guarantee full equality of treatment between citizens or entities resident or domiciled in Catalonia with residents or domiciled outside the Catalan territory.

The Catalan cultural centers today are, as mentioned, alive and active organizations at all levels (culture, economic promotion, universities, development cooperation, etc.) and equal treatment by law 18/1996 it implies, leads, as a necessary consequence, a change of mentality also in Catalonia Exterior, where the relationship with the administration should be as they must have all citizens and democratic institutions in Catalonia today: free policies and safeguards will consolidate entities based on the effectiveness of action and independence of judgment in thinking.

The International Federation of Catalan Organizations

The day 2 of November 1996 was formally the International Federation of Catalan Organizations (FIEC) Toulouse. Today, the FIEC brings together over sixty Catalan organizations abroad.

So far FIEC held, usually involving significant, General Assemblies in Toulouse (1996), Brussels (1998), Assumption (1999, coinciding with the meeting of the Southern Cone organizations), Barcelona (2000, coinciding with the Second Meeting of Catalan Centers around the world), Rosario (2001, coinciding with the meeting of the Southern Cone organizations), Montevideo (2003, coinciding with the meeting of the Southern Cone organizations) i a Girona (2005, coinciding with the Third Meeting of Catalan Centers around the world).

FIEC is a grouping of organizations Free, voluntary and autonomous does not pursue other purpose than to be a laboratory of ideas to advance the understanding and satisfying the needs of Catalonia Exterior. It is necessary and irreplaceable critical conscience that any community or stakeholder needs and will ever need before the government and before the Interior Catalonia. As a Federation we believe fully in the need to go with a voice where there have said things that needed. We want, logically, perform our work with full independence of opinion and action, but at the same time we want to do it with the maximum collaboration with the Council of the Catalan Communities Abroad (which many members of the FIEC part as representatives of Catalan Centers), with advice from other federations and communities in the Catalan language area whenever possible and in a climate of dialogue and cordial understanding with the Spanish and Catalan authorities in the field of their respective competences.

You can download Documents FIEC next:

  • A complete overview of the past, present and future of Catalan communities abroad as well as a complete and elaborate catalog their interests and needs is in the document "Catalan communities abroad: part of Catalonia»February 2005
  • The composition of the board of the FIEC period 2008-2012
  • The document "Elections to the Parliament of Catalonia and Catalonia Exterior"Novembre 2010 programs for the Catalans with the outside of the political forces participating in those elections.
  • The number Newsletter 4 May the FIEC 2004 the appearance of representatives of the FIEC report to the editor of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia with the contributions relating to Catalonia Exterior
  • Conclusions of the Sixth General Assembly of the FIEC in Montevideo (Uruguay) July 2003
  • The full text of the hearing the representatives of the FIEC in 2002 Legislature before the Standing Committee on European Union Affairs and Actions, Solidarity and Cooperation of the Parliament of Catalonia
  • The services of the Generalitat of Catalonia for Catalan communities abroadThe day-to-day relationship between the Government of Catalonia and the Catalan communities is assured by the Department of Catalan Communities Abroad, which is responsible Daniel Gimeno, and it depends on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Senen Florensa. This is part of the Department Secretariat of the Presidency of the Generalitat of Catalonia.

    With the launch of the website Catalan Communities Abroad by Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Generalitat of Catalonia has created a new channel of communication with Catalan communities abroad.

    On this website you can find, others:

    1. A complete list associations formed for Catalan communities abroad
    2. The Revista Catalonia News published by the Secretariat of Foreign Cooperation of the Generalitat of Catalonia
    3. Complete information on Council of Catalan Communities Abroad, advisory body that meets once a year and is intended to advise the Government on matters of interest to Catalan communities abroad

    Also under the responsibility of the Government organized the World Meeting of Catalan Centers around the World. The Fourth Meeting of Casals Catalans around the world was held between 22 and 25 d'April 2008 in Tarragona. The announcement of this meeting due to the provisions of Law 18/1996 relations with Catalan communities abroad to set a four-year periodicity for these meetings. Representatives from nearly a hundred organizations we discussed and worked over three days on what are the essential concerns of Catalan communities abroad.

    Annually from the Department of Catalan Communities Abroad of the Government of Catalonia are held, via the Official Journal of the Generalitat, scholarships (Grants ACC) for young Catalans for a stay of nine months in a community outside Catalan. The activity of these fellows represents a huge support for charities, entities that are not professionalized, and can strengthen much their daily activities with the help of interns. Luxembourg benefited the 2009 and again 2011 the work of these scholars. To explain who they are and what they do, fellows 2010 will create a blog explaining its activity. Fellows 2011 also have his.

    As for the other regions of the Catalan language area, from the Balearic Government responsible for relations with Balearic communities abroad falls on the Ministry of Immigration and Cooperation of the Balearic Government, and in the case of relations with Valencia Valencian communities abroad rests with the General Directorate of Citizen Participation of the Generalitat Valenciana.