Staying up to date as regional language rules change

Key rules

• EU status: Catalan, Basque and Galician are not official EU languages, though limited use is allowed in some contexts.
• Official text: The binding text of a language law is in the national gazette or the region's own bulletin, not in news reports.
• Moving areas: School language rules and public-job language requirements are the areas changing fastest.
• Local confirmation: Confirm any rule with your town hall, school or the regional language policy office before you act.

Where EU recognition stands

Catalan, Basque and Galician are not official EU languages. Spain has asked for this since 2023, but the change needs every EU country to agree in the Council of the EU, and that has not happened. Several countries raised concerns about legal questions, cost and precedent. Spain presented a new proposal in 2024 and talks went on without agreement.

In practice, an administrative arrangement between Spain and the EU institutions lets you use these languages in some contexts, such as letters to the institutions. That is limited use, not official status. The position may have moved since this was written, so look up the latest outcome of the EU's General Affairs Council before you rely on it.

Regional reforms that are moving

Several regions have changed or are changing their language rules. Treat this list as a map of where to look, not as the final word.

• Aragon: a 2024 law on languages replaced the 2013 framework and restored the names Aragonese and Catalan.
• Valencian Community: a 2024 law on free choice of language in education relaxed the earlier Valencian requirements in schools.
• Balearic Islands: changes have loosened Catalan requirements in public employment.
• Navarre and the Basque Country: both continue with their own language plans.
• Asturias: talks with the Spanish government on making Asturian co-official are still going.
• Galicia: debate continues over how much Galician is used in schools.

If you have children in school or plan to apply for a public-sector job, these changes matter most. Check the current rule with the school or the body hiring before you plan around it.

How to check what applies now

Do it in this order:

1. Find the official text. National laws appear in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE). Each region with its own language publishes its laws in its own bulletin:

   • Catalonia: DOGC
   • Balearic Islands: BOIB
   • Valencian Community: DOGV
   • Galicia: DOG
   • Basque Country: BOPV/EHAA
   • Navarre: Boletín Oficial de Navarra

   Town halls publish their own language ordinances in the provincial or regional bulletin.

2. Ask the language policy office. Each region has a body that gives practical guidance: Catalonia's Secretaria de Política Lingüística, the Valencian Generalitat's language policy directorate, Galicia's Secretaría Xeral de Política Lingüística, the Basque Government's Viceconsejería de Política Lingüística, and the Balearic Government's language policy directorate.

3. Confirm with your town hall, school or employer. They apply the rule day to day, and they know if a new law or court ruling has changed it.

Office names and rules change when a new regional government takes over or a court rules, so confirm on the region's own official website. The questions below cover the most common queries.

Frequently asked questions

Can I write to EU institutions in Catalan, Basque or Galician?

Yes, in some cases you can write to the EU institutions in these languages, because Spain has an administrative arrangement that allows limited use of them in letters. This is not the same as official status.

Which regional language reforms have changed recently?

Several regions have changed their rules since 2024. Aragon replaced its 2013 language law and restored the names Aragonese and Catalan. The Valencian Community passed a law on free choice of language in schools. The Balearic Islands loosened Catalan requirements in public jobs. Several of these were still developing in 2025.

Where do I find the official text of a regional language law?

Each co-official community publishes its laws in its own regional bulletin. Examples are the DOGC in Catalonia, the BOIB in the Balearic Islands, the DOGV in the Valencian Community and the DOG in Galicia. National laws appear in the BOE, and town halls publish local language ordinances in the provincial or regional bulletin.

Who can give me practical guidance on the language rules where I live?

Each co-official community has a language policy body that gives practical guidance. Examples are Catalonia's Secretaria de Política Lingüística and the Galician Secretaría Xeral de Política Lingüística. Check its portal for the current position, because body names and rules change with new governments and court rulings.