In the framework of international relations, it is obvious that the European Union is the most important reference for Catalonia. However, it was not until 2016 that a ministry dedicated to foreign affairs was created, and in 2023, the European Union was added to the title. Over these eight years, the ministry has had four male ministers and two female ministers, none of whom have held the position for more than two years. It is not surprising, then, that it is difficult to recall the most relevant activities or the planned and achieved milestones. Nor were the individuals responsible particularly knowledgeable in international politics, except for the first minister and the most recent one.
The current Government of the Generalitat maintains the ministry with a significant title change, from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Union to Ministry of European Union and Foreign Affairs, and with the appointment of Jaume Duch as minister. He is a lawyer, university professor, and journalist who has held various positions in the European Parliament and lived in Brussels for thirty years.
The functions of the Ministry involve coordinating the Government's foreign action, external relations, and the Generalitat's engagement with the European Union. Therefore, it is clear that the new minister possesses the best qualifications and experience to carry out an activity that, over the years, has been severely diminished due to the political process and has prevented Catalonia from strengthening its economic leadership in a more federal Europe.