The General Affairs Council is debating the official status of , , and during a meeting on 22 September 2026. Under the Irish rotating presidency, Secretary of State Fernando Sampedro is attending in place of José Manuel Albares.
No vote is expected today despite the proposal being on the agenda. Italy opposes the measure, while Foreign Minister Albares has urged unanimity from New York. Pedro Sánchez’s government may block new EU accessions if this language demand remains unresolved.
Junts spokesperson Josep Rius criticised the government for being late in achieving official status. The party claims Madrid failed to use the formation of the European Commission to unblock the issue, which remains a significant point of domestic political tension.