About: Catalonia independence
Catalonia’s ex-leader Puigdemont banned from EU polls
Spanish election authorities on Monday (29 April) banned Catalonia’s former president Carles Puigdemont, who fled the country in 2017 after a secession attempt, from running in upcoming EU polls. Puigdemont slammed the move in a tweet as a “legal scandal...
Electoral uncertainty augurs more political instability in Spain
Spain is gearing up for its third general elections in just over three years within a political atmosphere of instability and uncertainty such as has not been seen in 40 years and which looks set to continue even after ballot day, analysts say. EURACTIV's partner efe-epa reports.
Spain’s right, far-right rally against PM over Catalonia
Tens of thousands of people waving Spanish flags joined a rally on Sunday (10 February) in Madrid called by right-wing and far-right parties against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who they accuse of treachery over his negotiations with Catalan separatists. Police said around 45,000...
Catalan separatist trial gives Spanish far right global platform
Far-right Spanish party Vox is on track to get a global soapbox as it takes part in the much-hyped trial of Catalan pro-independence leaders as a "popular prosecutor" -- a Spain-specific legal mechanism that has left Madrid embarrassed.
Catalan republicanism and European federalism
Republicanism in Catalonia is inseparable from both Catalanism and European federalism, writes Oriol Junqueras, who argues that Europe faces a crucial crossroads: on the one hand, an increasingly extreme right, and on the other, a modern European federalist left.
Spanish cabinet to meet in Catalonia amid separatist protests
Catalan pro-independence groups plan to protest and block roads in Barcelona on Friday (21 December) as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez holds a cabinet meeting in the city under tight security.
Spanish PM hardens Catalonia stance with eye on election
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday (12 December) he would stand firm against what he called "inflammatory" Catalan separatist rhetoric, hardening his stance towards the region and upping the stakes in a broader political game.
Catalan leader calls on Madrid to agree to independence referendum
Catalan leader Quim Torra relaunched a campaign to split his region from Spain on Tuesday (4 September), calling on the central government in Madrid to agree to a referendum on independence and rebuffing a vote that could only offer greater autonomy.
Spain’s conservatives swing to the right with new leader
Spain's conservatives shifted to the right on Saturday (21 July), electing a traditionalist as leader as they seek to re-establish a clear political identity less than two months after being removed from government.
In ‘cordial’ meeting with Catalan leader, Sánchez signals thaw
Spain’s Prime Minister signaled a thaw in relations with Catalonia yesterday (9 July), signing up to joint initiatives in a first meeting with the region’s leader but again ruling out any moves toward Catalan independence.
Spain’s new PM unveils pro-EU government dominated by women
Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday unveiled a new pro-EU government with the most women in modern history, with 11 female and six male ministers.
Kosovo is not Catalonia, Kosovo’s Thaci tells absent Spanish PM Rajoy
Pristina ‘understands’ the decision of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy not to attend the EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia, but “Kosovo is not Catalonia”, Kosovo's President Hashim Thaçi told EURACTIV.com.
Kosovo conundrum looms large over Western Balkans summit
As Bulgaria prepares for a Western Balkan summit in May, seen by many as the centrepiece of its EU Council Presidency, Sofia has realised that not all its guests want to sit at the same table.
Stormy protest in Barcelona after Germany arrests Puigdemont
Thousands of Catalan separatists hit the streets of Barcelona on Sunday (25 March), vowing the arrest of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont in Germany would not stop their push for independence.
Catalonia parliament speaker visits jailed former colleagues
Spanish journalists hoping for clarification on the political contingency plan in the affluent Catalonia region were left disappointed on Thursday (8 February) when the regional parliament speaker shunned the topic following his meeting with the ousted Catalan vice president in a Madrid...
Spain’s top court rejects new bid to arrest exiled Catalan ex-president
The Spanish Supreme Court dismissed on Monday (22 January) a request by top Spanish prosecutors to reactivate a European arrest warrant for the ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who has been in exile since November. EURACTIV'S partner EFE reports.
Learning from Catalonia: What criteria for independence bids?
The EU needs to establish a rational basis for determining the legitimacy of independence bids. Secession of regions should be difficult to enact, but not impossible, argue Steven Hill and Andrew Watt.
Fact or Fake: Is Madrid staging a ‘coup d’état’ in Catalonia?
As Catalans descend on Brussels for a pro-independence rally on Thursday (7 December), EURACTIV's Frédéric Simon goes over some of the claims made by their exiled leader, Carles Puigdemont.
Sacked Catalan leader challenges EU to respect election outcome
Catalonia's former leader challenged Spain and the European Union to respect the result of Catalan regional elections in December, saying Madrid would have to end direct rule if separatists win.
Bulgaria’s Simeon: Time to leave a mark after so many years of isolation
In an exclusive interview in his Vrana Palace near Sofia on 17 November 2017, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha shared his thoughts on the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. A version of this interview on the website BulgarianPresidency.eu contains the original transcript in Bulgarian.
Rajoy vows to defeat separatists in Catalan election
Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Tuesday (14 November) he hopes to defeat separatists in next month's Catalan election, which will be dominated by regional lawmakers' independence drive, calling for a "massive" turnout by voters.
Hundreds rally in Brussels for Catalan independence
Several hundred people rallied in Brussels on Sunday (12 November) to back the independence push in Catalonia, slam the EU and demand Spain release jailed regional officials.
Puigdemont fate hangs on Belgium’s European arrest warrant response
A Belgian judge has granted conditional release to sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his ministers, and the group is scheduled to appear in court within 15 days, Belgian prosecutors said on Monday (6 November).