Overview
- Speaking at Sciences Po in Paris on September 12, the Catalan president called for EU "coraje político" to confront what he labeled a genocide in Gaza.
- He proposed limiting trade with Israel as an initial step and urged deploying EU institutions and the bloc’s commercial weight to increase pressure.
- Illa pressed for strategic autonomy, saying Europe should set its own rules on tariffs and criticizing Ursula von der Leyen’s photo-op with President Trump.
- Framing the period as an existential turning point, he revived his federalism pitch with the formulation "Federation or vassalage" to deepen political union.
- The remarks come as Spanish media note rising tensions with Netanyahu’s government, and no EU policy change has been announced in response to his proposals.