MNI EXCLUSIVE: Officials Seek More EU Action on Catalan Crisis

By Tara Oakes and Jack Duffy

     PARIS (MNI) - Catalan officials have called for the European Union and the

international community to mediate its crisis with the Spanish government on

Monday and signalled they could declare independence within days.

     Catalonia expects "the solidarity of the international institutions,"

Josep-Maria Terricabras, a Catalan MEP who is Vice Chairman of the European

Parliament's Greens group, said in an interview with MNI.

     "And at least the intermediation of the EU," he added.

     The Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont told a news conference on Monday that

"it's obvious that we need mediation. It is not a domestic matter".

     The European Commission rejected the pleas for intervention, however,

saying in a statement that Catalonia's independence referendum on Sunday was "an

internal matter for Spain" that "has to be dealt with in line with the

constitutional order of Spain".

     The Commission's decision to keep their distance will be welcomed by some,

including Javier Nart, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament's ALDE liberal

group.

     "A European intervention would be nonsense that would violate the Treaty of

the union," Nart told MNI.

     But pressure is mounting from domestic and international voices after

graphic pictures of alleged police brutality shocked the world, a fact that Nart

acknowledged.

     "We are well aware that the images broadcasted have had a deep impact in

the European public opinion," Nart said. He added that although police had acted

in accordance to the constitution, if "excesses" were proven to have occurred

they would be punishable.

     The pressure has worked to a degree. Late Monday, Antonio Tajani, President

of the European Parliament, confirmed there would be a debate in Strasbourg on

the issue in the chamber on Wednesday.

     The Catalan government said Sunday that 90% of 2.3 million votes cast in

Sunday's referendum -- about 42% of the 5.4 million eligible voters -- had been

in favour of independence.

     Spanish stocks, government bonds and the euro fell on Monday as the

standoff raised the chances that Madrid could activate a constitutional clause

to suspend Catalonia's regional autonomy.

     Terricabras, who along with others is seeking a European Parliament debate

on the situation, said Catalonia could declare itself an independent country by

Wednesday, although he acknowledged there would be no international recognition

of the move.

     Catalonia can "declare - not proclaim - independence," he said.

     "These are two different things. Proclaim means that you have been

recognized. We are saying we see ourselves as an independent country," he told

MNI.

     Some Spanish MEPs from outside of Catalonia, while denouncing the

independence referendum, called on the EU to do more to defuse the situation.

     "The vote is not legal and can't be applied, that's a fact," Florent

Marcellesi, a Greens MEP from Spain, told MNI.

     "At the same time, we can't ignore that millions of Catalan people ask the

end of the status quo and to vote on a new relationship with Spain," he said.

     Marcellesi said the EU "should mediate, helping to seat around the table

the Spanish and Catalonian government and help them to find a political and

negotiated solution to the conflict".

--MNI Paris Bureau; tel: +33 1-42-71-55-41; email: jack.duffy@marketnews.com

--MNI Brussels Bureau; +44 203-865-3851; email: tara.oakes@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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