Spain asks EU parliament to make Catalan its first regional language

FILE PHOTO: The European Union flag waves next to the Spanish flag after it was raised in Madrid's central Columbus Square, in celebration of Spain's upcoming referendum on the European Constitution, February 17, 2005. REUTERS/Susana Vera PH/WS/File Photo

MADRID (Reuters) -The Spanish government said on Wednesday it will ask the European Parliament to consider allowing the use of Catalan in the chamber, in what would be a first for a European regional language.

Madrid will present to the Parliament's board in Brussels a "technically and financially viable" proposal and work to gather a majority among the board's members to support the change, with the aim of getting it approved before year-end, the Catalan regional and central governments said in a joint statement.