Independent Catalonia to Be EU Member – Catalonia’s Chief Communicator | SI

Independent Catalonia to Be EU Member – Catalonia’s Chief Communicator

October 06

18:38 2017

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Catalan government’s Director for Foreign Communications has commented on the region’s prospects following the independence referendum.

Independent Catalonia will be a member of the European Union, as expelling it

“Catalonia could be expelled from the European Union only if Spain recognises it as an independent state. But this would mean there is an agreement between Catalonia and Spain, because recognition comes from an agreement. But if there is such an agreement for recognition, what is the point of expelling Catalonia from the EU? It’s in the benefit of no-one,” Pique said.

The official stressed that expelling Catalonia from the European Union would be against the interests of Spain, as “55% of all exports of Spain go through Catalonia.”

“What is the point of expelling 7.5 million Europeans from a country that is a net contributor to the EU budget? Expelling a country that has Barcelona, the most dynamic and attractive city in the south of Europe? The only point would be revenge. But revenge doesn’t serve the common interest. So this [expelling independent Catalonia from the European Union] is not going to happen,” Pique stated.

However, prior to the independence vote, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that if Catalonia gained independence, it would not become a member of the European Union immediately after the referendum and will have to follow the same accession process to be admitted to the bloc as those countries that have entered the union since 2004.

On Sunday, Catalonia held the independence referendum, doomed as illegal by Madrid. According to the region’s authorities, over 90 percent of the voters supported the secession from Spain. Spanish officials tried to hamper the vote by confiscating the ballot boxes, shutting down polling stations and preventing voters from casting ballots. The actions of the Spanish police and Civil Guard led to violent clashes with the voters, leaving hundreds injured. However, earlier in the day, a Madrid representative apologized for police violence during the referendum.