Catalan MEPs ask the EU to evaluate the risk of a military intervention

Dear Ms. Reding,

European Commission Vice President

Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.



We are writing to convey our strong concern for a number of threats to use military force against the Catalan population. As you are aware, on September 11, 1.5 million people demonstrated in Barcelona under the slogan “Catalonia next European state,” and from that moment, the Catalan right to self-determination has been part of public debate in Catalonia, Spain and internationally.

Alarmingly, this debate has been manipulated by different factions in an unacceptable manner, threatening the use of military violence on the Catalan people. Many have pointed out that in case of secession of a part of the Spanish State, under article 8 of the Spanish Constitution, the role of the armed forces is “to guarantee the sovereignty and independence of Spain, defending its territorial integrity and the constitutional order.”

It is more worrying that public figures with relevant responsibility in the military hierarchy use these arguments publicly and advocate the use of violence. Three people deserve to be named here: Colonel Alamán, Vice President of the European Parliament Alejo Vidal Quadras, and President of the Association of Spanish Military, Colonel Leopoldo Sánchez Muñoz. These people, in various interviews and statements, interpret article 8 as an invitation for the intervention of Spain's armed forces in case Catalonia decides to go ahead with a democratic referendum. The three of them called for the central government to get ready a possible military intervention, and Mr. Muñoz Sanchez suggested suspending not only Catalan self-government institutions, but also taking away constitutional rights from the citizens of Catalonia, and putting in place a central government run or military authority.




Paragraph 1 of Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) includes a list of the principles on which the Union is founded: “principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of Law.” Considering these principles, public statements urging the use of military violence against citizens of the European Union are unacceptable.


Such threats in actuality limit Catalan and Spanish democracy and the rights of freedom of expression and assembly of the Catalan people. In these circumstances, the European Union must intervene proactively to ensure that the resolution of this political conflict is peaceful and democratic.

The European Union is one of the places in the world that best protect democracy and fundamental rights, in particular through the national legal systems and the Constitutional Courts. However, when the courts of one State do not guarantee military subordination to civilian authority, it is essential that the European Union intervenes.


Likewise, the European Union has just received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012, and specifies in Article 2 and 3 of the TEU that peace is one of its goals. It is therefore essential that the European Commission as an institution that looks after Union Treaties makes a public statement demanding the removal from public debate of any military threat or use of armed force as a means of resolving political conflict. This is particularly necessary considering that no representative of the Spanish government has disqualified such statements publicly, although some of the associations that have made the statements represent active military.

We recall that Article 7 TEU establishes a monitoring procedure and recommendations, which may result in the suspension of the voting rights of a state in the Council. This procedure must be used if there is a “clear risk of a serious violation and a serious violation persistent and common values.” We ask that the EU evaluate the actual risk of a possible military intervention in Catalonia and the tone used by some members of Spanish People's Party and the Government of Spain. The European Commission should be able to determine when to set the article 7 procedure in motion against the Spanish state if it does not address citizens' demands democratically.

Regardless of individual's ideas, it is inconceivable that fascists and war-time arguments are openly manifested today. In pursuit of democracy and peace in Europe, as members of Europan Parliament, we ask you to put a stop to the use of use of force threats as a way to resolve any political conflict within the European Union.

Many thanks in advance.





Most sincerely,

Raül Romeva i Rueda (MEP Greens / ALE)


Maria Badia i Cuchet (MEP Socialist Party)


Ramon Tremosa (MEP ALDE)


Ana Miranda (MEP Greens / ALE)