The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, took an unprecedented position so far against the idea of secession, considered a «mistake»
by Emanuele Bonini
(english version of my article for eunews.it)
Separation from Spain is «a mistake», a not sustainable option, since «nobody in Europe would recognise the independence of Catalonia», the president of the European Parliament said today. Antonio Tajani is the first EU top official to openly take position against what is still a Spanish autonomus region. Speaking at the end of the meeting with the head of State and government of the EU Member States, he was able to break the wall of silence around the Catalan issue. The political messagge sent to the local authorities is not conciliatory. On the contrary, Tajani's speech escalates tentions, although it contains true element of realpolitik. Amongst these, the fact that in case of independence Catalunya risks to find itself totally and completely alone and isolated.
Leaving Spain means leaving the EU. In such a scenario, Catalunia will never access the European Union because enlargment alwayas requires unanimity. The alternative can be the European Economic Area (EEA), but in order to join the group the applicant needs to be recognised as State, independent and sovereign, by the international community. There is also a legal aspect, Tajani told repoters during the press conference. The EU cannot recognise Catalonia because already recognises Spain and its Constitution. Therefore, an eventual secession of Catalunia «would be against the law», and more in detail, it would be «against the Spanish Constitution, which is EU law». In other words no mediation is possible, according to Tajani. «I have no intention to mediate» between Spain and Catalunia. This for two different motivations: first of all, «it's not up the European Parliament to do so», and secondly «we have no intention to recognise Catalunia as an interlocutor of the same level of the Spanish government». Tajani standed with Marian Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister member of the EPP like the president of the European Parliament. The latter made clear that «Catalunia is not a State but a region part of the Spanish country», assuming that for the EU the status won't change.
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| Antonio Tajani (left side) with Mariano Rajoy |
(english version of my article for eunews.it)
Separation from Spain is «a mistake», a not sustainable option, since «nobody in Europe would recognise the independence of Catalonia», the president of the European Parliament said today. Antonio Tajani is the first EU top official to openly take position against what is still a Spanish autonomus region. Speaking at the end of the meeting with the head of State and government of the EU Member States, he was able to break the wall of silence around the Catalan issue. The political messagge sent to the local authorities is not conciliatory. On the contrary, Tajani's speech escalates tentions, although it contains true element of realpolitik. Amongst these, the fact that in case of independence Catalunya risks to find itself totally and completely alone and isolated.
Leaving Spain means leaving the EU. In such a scenario, Catalunia will never access the European Union because enlargment alwayas requires unanimity. The alternative can be the European Economic Area (EEA), but in order to join the group the applicant needs to be recognised as State, independent and sovereign, by the international community. There is also a legal aspect, Tajani told repoters during the press conference. The EU cannot recognise Catalonia because already recognises Spain and its Constitution. Therefore, an eventual secession of Catalunia «would be against the law», and more in detail, it would be «against the Spanish Constitution, which is EU law». In other words no mediation is possible, according to Tajani. «I have no intention to mediate» between Spain and Catalunia. This for two different motivations: first of all, «it's not up the European Parliament to do so», and secondly «we have no intention to recognise Catalunia as an interlocutor of the same level of the Spanish government». Tajani standed with Marian Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister member of the EPP like the president of the European Parliament. The latter made clear that «Catalunia is not a State but a region part of the Spanish country», assuming that for the EU the status won't change.
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