The recent statements of the Latvian and Lithuanian Prime Ministers in favour of the recognition of an independent Catalonia have provoked the reaction of the Spanish government, and in particular of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel García-Margallo. He is considered within the ruling right-wing Partido Popular as a key element to curb separatism.
Today’s strategy seems to be to convince the Catalans that their future outside the European Union is more like Dante’s inferno than anything else. The Partido Popular threatens a loss of more than 20% of GDP, international isolation…
That is why all the ambassadors of the European Union member states were invited for lunch last Thursday, September 16th. It is difficult to really know which topics were discussed. It seems that the matter of Catalonia was not dealt with, despite the fact that the purpose of the Spanish government is that whenever the question of Catalonia's place in the European Union is raised, the answer is hard-line exclusion, as was demonstrated by the statements made after a lunch meeting between the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier and the Minister.
Today’s strategy seems to be to convince the Catalans that their future outside the European Union is more like Dante’s inferno than anything else. The Partido Popular threatens a loss of more than 20% of GDP, international isolation…
That is why all the ambassadors of the European Union member states were invited for lunch last Thursday, September 16th. It is difficult to really know which topics were discussed. It seems that the matter of Catalonia was not dealt with, despite the fact that the purpose of the Spanish government is that whenever the question of Catalonia's place in the European Union is raised, the answer is hard-line exclusion, as was demonstrated by the statements made after a lunch meeting between the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier and the Minister.
Indeed, diplomats repeated again that Catalonia would be excluded from the European Union if it became independent. What they do not say is how long it would take to be readmitted.
Nevertheless, it would be interesting to open another debate… Is it beneficial for Catalonia to belong to the European community or would it be better off with a more flexible status such as Norway, Switzerland or Andorra?
With the European elections taking place in eight months, we will probably see that the European Community is gradually losing prestige…
Nevertheless, it would be interesting to open another debate… Is it beneficial for Catalonia to belong to the European community or would it be better off with a more flexible status such as Norway, Switzerland or Andorra?
With the European elections taking place in eight months, we will probably see that the European Community is gradually losing prestige…
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