Interview with Laura Foraster i Lloret, Director General, Catalonia International

15 Jan Interview with Laura Foraster i Lloret, Director General, Catalonia International

Can you provide an overview of Catalonia International’s mission and responsibilities as a newly transformed entity in 2025?

Catalonia International has maintained the same mission since its inception. Established in 2024, this consortium descends from the Patronat Català Pro Europa and the Patronat Catalonia Món, which were focused on fostering connections within Europe, especially before Spain joined the European Union. The original goal of these entities was to strengthen ties between Catalan and European citizens and institutions. Over time, the scope expanded to encompass global outreach, reflected in its transformation into Patronat Catalonia Món — “Món” means “world” in Catalan. Later, it evolved into the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia, shifting its focus to public diplomacy while continuing to promote Catalonia internationally. As Catalonia International, our mission today remains to connect Catalonia with the world by building bridges, exchanging ideas and fostering meaningful relationships between citizens, institutions and cultures. We aim to connect Catalonia with the world. Using classic public diplomacy tools like international visitor programs, debates and social networks, we foster meaningful exchanges. While reindustrialization in Catalonia is primarily handled by the Ministry of Business and Labor, we collaborate when needed through government agencies and the Ministry for European Union and Foreign Action led by Minister Jaume Duch.

What efforts are being made to preserve and showcase Catalonian culture around the world?

Catalonia has a long tradition of internationalization from trade to culture. In today’s globalized world, internationalization is no longer optional — it is essential. With just a click, we can connect with anyone, anywhere. To support our goals, we have various entities that handle specific areas. Government agencies like ACCIÓ focus on investment and enterprise, while Institut Ramon Llull promotes Catalan culture. Prodeca, for example, highlights Catalonia’s gastronomy. Catalonia International complements these agencies, working collaboratively and in coordination with them and the government to strengthen Catalonia’s global presence.

One of Catalonia’s most cherished traditions is Saint George’s Day, celebrated on April 23rd. Based on the legend of Saint George and the dragon, it tells how the saint saved a princess and gifted her a rose that grew from the dragon’s blood. Originally, the tradition involved men giving roses to women they loved, but today roses are exchanged by everyone — friends, family and couples alike. With UNESCO’s World Book Day falling on the same date, Catalonia also celebrates the holiday by exchanging books and roses. On this day, the streets come alive with people sharing love, friendship and culture. At Catalonia International, we do not expect the world to adopt Saint George’s Day as it is a unique tradition. However, we want people to know that Catalonia is more than Gaudí’s architecture or FC Barcelona’s global fame. It is also the home of the Day of Books and Roses, a celebration we are proud of for its friendly and inclusive spirit. Similar to how Saint Patrick’s Day represents Ireland, we aim to make Saint George’s Day synonymous with Catalonia. To promote this, we organize activities such as inviting international cultural journalists to experience the tradition firsthand each year. We created the website booksandroses.cat to showcase Saint George’s Day celebrations organized by Catalan communities abroad, including in the USA, Argentina, China, South Korea, Japan and Morocco. Catalan expats act as cultural ambassadors, keeping the tradition alive globally.

Additionally, we promote another unique tradition, the Castells or human towers, which are an iconic part of Catalan culture. From September onwards and throughout the year, visitors can attend exhibitions and festivals that culminate in the Concurs de Castells, a biannual competition where teams from different cities compete based on the difficulty of their towers. This vibrant event showcases the spirit of Catalonia. This year, our International Visitors Programme will also focus on research and science, highlighting Catalonia’s cultural, tourism and scientific infrastructure. By collaborating with the ministry, we aim to promote our research centers and science facilities to the world.

What initiatives is Catalonia International implementing to support local talent?

Catalonia has one of the oldest scholarship programs in the region, now in its 42nd edition. These scholarships support students who graduated from Catalan universities — regardless of nationality — to pursue studies abroad in fields like international relations, European Union studies, public diplomacy and Mediterranean affairs. The program ensures that those who lack financial means can access these opportunities. We believe this is a long-term investment, as many recipients return to contribute to Catalonia’s progress whether through government roles, enterprises or international organizations. To date, over 300 students have benefited, and we recently launched an alumni network to connect and support this growing community.

Why is it essential for Catalonia to participate in EU and global decision-making?

Catalonia aims to play an active role in global and European issues, particularly within the European Union and the Mediterranean region. Public diplomacy, as emphasized by Professor Nicolas J. Cull, relies on listening before being heard. We prioritize understanding others’ perspectives while sharing Catalonia’s voice. In the European Union, we align with priorities like democratic values, the social pillar and citizen-centered policies and actively contribute to these dialogues and initiatives. Many of our activities are collaborative and leverage the expertise of the 38 member entities in our consortium to address various fields. In the recent fifth Social Europe Debate, organized with the consortium member Third Sector Platform of Catalonia, we focus on key social issues each year. The event facilitates exchanges on best practices, comparing Catalonia’s efforts with EU policies and actions from other regions, cities and institutions. We invite international experts to Catalonia to participate in the debate and also organize a visitor program, allowing them to learn from our initiatives while sharing their own experiences.

What are the main highlights of the Catalonia International’s 2023-2026 strategy?

While our work is global, our focus remains on the European Union and the Mediterranean. Our strategy revolves around our three key areas: connecting, projecting and empowering. We emphasize exchanging best practices, learning from successes and failures and fostering dialogue. We project Catalonia’s assets, such as its culture, research, universities and entrepreneurship, through collaboration with 12 Catalan universities, business associations and trade unions. Working closely with government agencies like ACCIÓ, Institut Ramon Llull and Prodeca, we showcase Catalonia’s values worldwide. Our scholarship program is a key part in empowering Catalan citizens and institutions, and we take great pride in it. We collaborate closely with member entities to identify and create tailored courses. For example, with the municipalities of Catalonia, we designed a program focused on European Union funding opportunities for municipalities. The program was made in partnership with the two municipal associations and included support on how to apply, necessary partnerships and key timelines. We introduce new initiatives each year such as programs helping institutions engage effectively with EU bodies. Our goal is to empower Catalan municipalities and institutions to secure funding and take action.

What are your top priorities as Director General of Catalonia International, and what is your final message to the readers of USA Today?

Promoting European values is crucial to us, and I strongly believe the creation of the European Union is its greatest achievement. I am committed to supporting its core democratic values, especially in today’s climate of rising populism. In this day and age, we must protect and promote these values. Additionally, dialogue is key to resolving conflicts, especially in a world plagued by endless wars. Collaboration is also essential. Our consortium, with its 38 member entities from public and private sectors, exemplifies the power of working together toward a shared mission. Catalonia is a Mediterranean crossroads of cultures. Our official languages are Catalan, Spanish or Castilian and Aranese. As an open and inclusive culture, we have welcomed migration for many years and attracted many tourists. As a capital and economic engine, Barcelona has helped position Catalonia as a key hub for innovation, investment, research and talent in Southern Europe. If you have not yet visited Catalonia, I invite visitors to come and discover who we are, what we do and our values. It’s worth it!