The three Mallorcan producers travel to Brussels with the authorities of the insular institution to hold a conference and meet with European representatives.

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The protection of the fabrics of tongues through a PGI

The Consell de Mallorca will defend in the European Parliament the protection of tongue-weaves through the creation of a new Protected Geographical Indication. The three Mallorcan production companies are travelling to Brussels this Wednesday with the authorities of the island institution to hold a conference and meet with European representatives. The objective is to highlight the cultural, economic and social importance of guaranteeing this protection and to obtain the support of the European institutions.

Last October, the European Union definitively approved a new regulation that allows the creation of Protected Geographical Indications for artisan products, until then limited to gastronomic products. From that moment, the Consell de Mallorca, through the insular direction of Crafts, started to work with the only three companies left in Europe that produce cloth of tongues: they are Teixits Vicens (Pollença), Teixits Bujosa (Santa Maria) and Teixits Riera (Lloseta).

The vice-president of the Consell de Mallorca and councillor of Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, explains that the Consell de Mallorca, in exercising its competencies in the promotion and protection of Mallorcan craftsmanship, has to act to protect the cultural and artisanal heritage of these last three producers of cloth of tongues: “the tradition faces significant challenges such as the lack of generational replacement and unfair competition from imported products that, in many cases, are direct imitations and do not respect the artisanal origin. That is why we need to promote protection measures to ensure the continuity and recognition of the cloth of tongues, which is already exclusive to Mallorca”.

In addition, Roca stresses that “now a unique opportunity is opening up for the island and its textile tradition, not only for current producers but also to encourage the preservation of the craft for future generations”. This action would not only benefit current producers but would also encourage the preservation of the craft for future generations, giving a vital boost to the island’s artisan industry. With these objectives in mind, a conference will be held at the European Parliament to present the current situation of the cloth of tongues and argue the importance of its protection through the PGI. The vice-president and councillor emphasize that this joint effort symbolizes a step forward in the defense of Mallorca’s artisan heritage and reinforces the Consell’s commitment to the promotion and protection of its cultural wealth.

The delegation of the Consell de Mallorca that travels to Brussels is formed by the president of the insular institution, Llorenç Galmés; the vice-president and councillor of Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, and the insular director of Crafts, Pere Ferrer. As for the producers of fabrics of tongues, Tomeu Fuster, from Teixits Vicens; Maria Isabel Bujosa, from Teixits Bujosa, and Gabriel Riera, from Teixits Riera.

Agenda

On Wednesday, February 21, at noon, representatives of the Consell de Mallorca and language fabric producers will meet with MEPs Dolors Montserrat and Juan Ignacio Zoido. Then, at 4 p.m., the Consell de Mallorca will give the conference “Mallorcan languages in the Parliament”.

On Thursday, February 22, there will be a meeting with the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry and Entrepreneurship of the European Commission, which is responsible for this matter, and a visit to the Balearic Islands Europe Center.