Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia
The Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia (in Catalan language Consell de Diplomàcia Pública de Catalunya; acronym: DIPLOCAT) – previously known as the Patronat Catalunya Món – is a public-private consortium set up by the Catalan government, the Generalitat.[1] It is devoted to promoting international awareness of Catalonia. This consortium is made up of the Generalitat, the city councils of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, the four Catalan county councils, universities, chambers of trade and commerce, and other bodies.[2] Albert Royo i Mariné is the Secretary General of the Diplomacy Council since 14 February 2013.[3]
Activities
The Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia carries out different activities in the fields of economic diplomacy, digital diplomacy and citizens’ diplomacy.[4] It provides help and support for civil society bodies which carry out activities abroad, brings the main European and world issues of debate to Catalonia, and organizes electoral observation missions abroad. The Public Diplomacy Council also carries out tasks to strengthen capacities by coordinating training activities in international relations aimed principally at workers of the government, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and awarding grants and aid for other bodies to carry out these activities.[5]
The Public Diplomacy Council also develops activities of analysis and prevision preparing background documents which explain the essential basics of the economic and political situation of Catalonia to the non-Catalan public. In a similar way to other public diplomacy bodies around the world, the Diplomacy Council also organizes programmes of international visits to Catalonia.
Finally, one of the Diplomacy Council's activities with most international repercussion is the academic diplomacy events organized in collaboration with prestigious universities outside of Catalonia. In 2013 the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia organized several conferences regarding Catalonia's right to decide its own political future in relation with Spain and Europe. Conferences were held in Paris, London, Seville and Uppsala. In 2014 events have been held at Toulouse, Lisbon, Utrecht[6] and Oslo.[7]
Composition
The following public bodies constitute the Public Diplomacy Council:
- Public institutions
- Generalitat de Catalunya(Catalan Government)
- City halls of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona
- County councils of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona.
- Associació Catalana de Municipis i Comarques (Catalan Association of Municipalities and Counties)
- Federació de Municipis de Catalunya (Federation of the Municipalities of Catalonia)
- Financial, economic and business bodies
- Federació Catalana de Caixes d'Estalvis (Federation of Catalan Savings Banks)
- Consell General de les Cambres Officials de Comerç, Indústria i Navegació de Catalunya (General Board of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Catalonia)
- Micro, petita i mitjana empresa de Catalunya (PIMEC) (Association of Small and Medium-sized Businesses)
- Foment del Treball Nacional (Employers’ Association)
- Associació Multisectorial d'Empreses (Multi-sector Business Association)
- FemCAT FundacióPrivada d'Empresaris (Foundation of Private Business-people)
- Confederació de Cooperatives de Catalunya (Confederation of Catalan Co-operatives)
- Commissions Obreres de Catalunya (trade union)
- Unió General de Treballadors de Catalunya (tradeunion)
- Social and sport bodies
- Taula d'Entitats del Tercer Sector Social de Catalunya (Federation of Catalan Third Sector Social Bodies)
- Futbol Club Barcelona (Barcelona Football Club)
- Universities, business schools and academic centres
- Universities of Catalonia
- Main business schools in Barcelona
- Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) (Barcelona Institute of International Studies)
Award for business diplomacy
The Catalan Business Diplomacy Award aims to recognize those companies which identify themselves or their products or services, as Catalan – thus normalizing the visibility of Catalonia abroad, offering an image of excellence and promoting the values and assets of the country. This award was first created in 2003 by the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia and PIMEC. 2013's award was given to Aranow.[8]
References
- ↑ "El Govern crea un Consell de Diplomàcia pública per divulgar i promoure la causa catalana al món". Ara (in Catalan). 20 November 2012.
- ↑ "La diplomàcia catalana inicia a París una gira per explicar la consulta". Eldiario.es. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "Albert Royo és nomenat secretari general de DIPLOCAT, l'organisme de referència en la diplomàcia pública del país". Website (in Catalan). Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya. 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ Clavell, Roser. "Experts Answer: Women in Public Diplomacy-Full Length Response". Website. University of Southern California. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "Catalan Public Diplomacy Council promotes the projection of civil society organisations abroad". Catalan News Agency. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "European politicians agree in Utrecht on the right of Catalonia to hold an independence referendum". Vilaweb. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "Self-determination processes in the EU: The case of Catalonia". Website. University of Oslo. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ "ARANOW receives the international business diplomacy award from the Public Diplomacy Council of the Generalitat of Catalonia". Website. Aranow. Retrieved 21 April 2014.