This is undoubtedly one of the images of the weekend! Thirty elected officials from northern and southern Catalonia gathered at the Col de Banyuls this Saturday to request the reopening of this passage between France and Spain. Since January 2021, this cross-border access has been closed, obstructed by five large stones across the road. This week, the prefect of Pyrénées-Orientales announced that there would be no reopening by the end of the year. The objective, according to him, is to fight against trafficking, illegal immigration and terrorism.
“The Stones of Shame”
The rally this Saturday was at the call of the association “Alberes without borders”. Among the elected officials present, mayors, deputies, senators from northern and southern Catalonia, but also regional and departmental advisers. All have signed a declaration of principle and support to ask “the reopening” and the “maintenance of traffic at the Col de Banyuls”. The objective of the action was to show the mobilization of elected officials on both sides of the border.
“These are the stones of shamesays Jean-Michel Solé, mayor of Banyuls-sur-Mer. Symbolically, it is a road where all the persecuted people have passed. It has always been a place of exchange and sharing between the two Catalonias. And now, with democracy in France and Spain, to see this pass closed is simply scandalous!“
“For a State to be able to close a border within the Schengen area, it must be justified, proportionate, and limited in time. We believe that these three conditions are not met.”
Beyond the symbol of this rally, several announcements have been made, including the use of legal remedies. “I am certain that this closure is illegal, assures Pierre Becque, the president of the association. “Alberes without borders”. The memorandum of appeal for abuse of power before the Administrative Court of Montpellier is established. We will approve it in the board of directors this Wednesday evening. If it is accepted, as of Thursday, it will be tabled.”
© Radio France
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Theo Caubel
Among the avenues also mentioned, a possible referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union. “For a State to be able to close a border within the Schengen area, it must be justified, proportionate, and limited in time, explains MEP Jordi Solé. We believe that these three conditions are not together. There is therefore an attack on the right of free movement within the European Union.” Jordi Solé also invited the mayor of Banyuls to come during a session of the European Parliament to denounce in front of the hemicycle the closure of this pass.
The return of a former Puigdemont minister in exile
Note also the presence at this gathering of MEP Clara Ponsatí. The former minister in the government of Carles Puigdemont set foot in Spain for a few moments for the first time in 5 years. She has been in exile since the organization of the referendum for the independence of Catalonia in 2017.