By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 18 Sep 2015 • 10:37
AT a press conference on Thursday September 17, Margaritis Schinas, spokesperson for the European President made the following statement: “If part of a member state ceases to be part of that state, because of the territory becoming an independent state, the [EU] treaties would no longer apply to that territory.”
Although Catalonia was not specifically mentioned, the timing makes it clear that the statement was aimed at the voters of Catalonia who will be going to the polls on September 27.
This opinion has been echoed by a number of senior politicians throughout the EU and a newly released reported from the think tank Fundación Alternativas goes a step further, indicating its opinion that Catalonia would have to adopt a new currency and leave Schengen.
They also believe that as any secession from Spain would be unconstitutional, there is little likelihood of Catalonia ever being accepted for EU membership in its own right.
The forthcoming elections are not an official referendum, but the current president of the region Artur Mas has indicated his view that if pro secessionist parties are elected in the majority, then he would have the right to break away from Spain.
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