A Catalan referendum without agreement will make Berlin's aegis difficult

The Catalan Government representative in Germany augurs little backing if the referendum takes place without Madrid's consent. The representative of the Catalan Government in Berlin, Ms. Mar Ortega, warns that the reaction of the German government "will not be as good" if the referendum on independence is not agreed upon with Spain.

The representative of the Catalan Government in Berlin, Mar Ortega. Photo: Laura Pous.

"If this grows in crescendo, there is not much agreement with Spain and it is increasingly unilateral, the reaction will not be as good," says Ms. Ortega, who maintains contact with the Merkel government's secretaries of state and warns they "understood the vindication of the fiscal pact, but not the process" for a Catalan state. "Since last October, we have noticed hostility, they do not understand us," laments the representative before the German capital, who complains of "interference" by Spanish diplomats.

Ms. Ortega has headed the Catalan government delegation in Berlin since January 2012, when she took over from Mr. Martin Estruch on the proposal of Catalan Government partner, the Unió Democràtica de Catalunya party. "We educate" and "try to short-circuit the" narrative of fear, uncertainty and doubt that comes "from the Spanish embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs". "We do not attempt to reach Chancellor Merkel, but we do maintain contact with secretaries of state, we ask to meet them so we can explain, not only with economic arguments but also those of identity, that this is a process that comes from the bottom up and is completely legal," she says.

But "it is not easy to get them to understand," admits Ms. Ortega. The German government asks the Catalan Government to ensure that the process be  "democratic" at least, and she foresees "their reaction will be more or less favourable" depending on whether the referendum is agreed on with Madrid, as Scotland did with the UK. "There has never been a case such as this in Europe, whereby a country has such a virulent relationship with the central state, I would even dare imagine, it would be terrible and I hope it won't go that far" warns Ms. Ortega in her comments to the ACN news agency.

The Catalan government delegation in Berlin employs two people (including Ms. Ortga, along with an intern), while the Spanish Embassy in the German capital has a team of 112 people. Ortega has rejected the proposal of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to join and be part of the Spanish embassy. "The relationship is good, cordial, and we respect each other, but they won't help us," unlike what happens with other Spanish regions, says Ms. Ortega.

The representative appreciates the aid of the Catalan diplomatic service Diplocat, "a very good tool to educate and spread the word and to foster the Catalan Prime Minister's and the Treasury Department's arguments." Born in 1980, Ortega has a degree in Law and is specialized in International Relations and Trade. She was the Director of the Hands of Light Programme at the NGO Streets of India and has worked at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, with the Spanish Presidency of the European Council, and at the European Parliament.

Source: Nació Digital