At a point in history when both our nations lacked freedom, Catalans wished to express their solidarity with the Irish people as they struggled to regain their national rights. The Message concluded with an expression of hope that solidarity between our two nations would endure for evermore.

Recalling that sentiment, the Catalans now again address the Irish people, as r]presented by you, their President, at a time when Ireland - long established as an independent republic within the European Union - has assumed the Presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2004.

The Catalan people congratulate the Irish on their Presidency and note with satisfaction that the Irish Presidency Programme intends to facilitate the entry of new states to the EU as a matter of priority and to maintain “freedom, security and justice” among the peoples of Europe. Moreover, we are delighted that your programme proposes to encourage European citizens “to become much more involved in those processes that affect their lives”. In light of this, we are confident that you, as President of Ireland, will understand our great disappointment that the elaboration of a new Europan Constitution and the present configuration of Europe do not guarantee us, the Catalan people, rights as a nation or accord official status to our language - Catalan - which is today spoken by almost eleven million Europeans.

To reinforce the mutual sympathy felt historically between our countries, we would ask you, as President of Ireland, to support our national and linguistic rights as Catalans just as we fully supported the attainment of the rights of the Irish nation one hundred and eighteen years ago.

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