The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, currently in the news for having vetoed an event at the EU chamber involving Catalan presidents Puigdemont and Torra, considers the Catalan anti-independence group Catalan Civil Society (SCC) to be an example of "commitment to freedom, tolerance and Europeanism".
This was stated by the conservative Italian politician himself last year, when he received an award from the group. Specifically, it was what SCC call their Premi al Seny - Prize for Wisdom - which was presented to him on October 3rd, 2018.
Recibo el premio de Sociedad Civil Catalana @Societatcc. Un placer estar con vosotros, ejemplo de compromiso con la libertad, tolerancia y europeismo. pic.twitter.com/XWL0VmDCDL
— Antonio Tajani (@EP_President) 3 d’octubre de 2018
Translation:
I am receiving the award from Catalan Civil Society. A pleasure to be with you, who are an example of a commitment to freedom, tolerance and Europeanism.—Antonio Tajani
In declarations to the press after the SCC event, the President of the European Parliament said that "what is happening in Catalonia is a problem among Catalans that must be resolved within the Spanish constitutional framework".