Catalonia's push for independence should be regarded as a "peaceful and democratic" example

Krakow (CNA).- The Catalan process is a "unique opportunity for the EU" to show that a "territorial conflict could be solved in a peaceful and democratic way", declared Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia (DIPLOCAT) Secretary General Albert Royo. He made these statements at the conference "Self-determination Processes: Challenge or Opportunity for the EU?" organised by DIPLOCAT and the Centre for European Studies of Jagiellonian University, in Krakow. International experts and academics from different fields debated on independence processes and their consequences. Professor of History at Pompeu Fabra University Fernando Guirao added that it would be “absurd” to talk about an automatic expulsion from the EU and Visiting Professor at the College of Europe Michal Natorski noted that "all secession processes are negotiated and finally accepted if they come to terms in a democratic way". The event took place this Thursday in the auditorium of Jagiellonian University – Poland’s oldest university – and counted among the attendees Adam Casals, Delegate of the Government of Catalonia to Austria.

The conference was divided into two parts. Current Catalan politics were analysed at the first round table. Royo explained the events which have happened in Catalonia after the 27-S elections, the negotiations between the main pro-independence forces in the Parliament to create a new government, the social support and pacific demonstrations in Catalonia and the judicial response of the Spanish State, which have taken the Parliament's pro-independence proposal before the court. Royo assessed the Catalan process as a “unique opportunity for the European Union to show the world how to solve a territorial conflict in a peaceful and democratic way”. 

Following this, Marie Curie Research Fellow at the University of Liège and Visiting Professor at the College of Europe Michal Natorski noted that "all secession processes are negotiated and finally accepted if they come to terms in a democratic way". According to him, the Catalan problem "results from the shock of legitimacy and legality and the incapacity of the Spanish State to accommodate the autonomy aspirations of the Catalans"

Architect and member of controversial Spanish unity association 'Societat Civil Catalana', Mariano Gomà, was also invited to spoke at this round table, upon endorsement from the Spanish Embassy in Poland. Gomà explained that in Catalonia many people are opposed to independence, amongst other reasons because "this would imply automatic expulsion from the European Union and all other international institutions". Gomà spoke in favour of a constitutional reform in Spain and a referendum on the Catalan question with the participation of all Spanish citizens. In relation to this, Associate Professor of Constitutional Law at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona Héctor López-Bofill commented that "there is no written law" on what would happen in Catalonia in case of its independence, "neither in the sense of an automatic expulsion, nor in the sense of an automatic membership".

Catalonia's fit within the EU

The second part of the conference concentrated on self-determination processes from an EU perspective. López-Bofill, spoke about the internal enlargement of the EU. Taking into account that the EU stands for an “ever closer union”, López-Bofill stated that negotiations "of two years maximum starting from the declaration of independence is the most likely scenario".

Jean Monnet Professor of History at the Pompeu Fabra University Fernando Guirao added that it would be “absurd” to talk about an automatic expulsion from the EU and showed himself to be convinced that a hypothetical independent Catalan Republic would remain within the Single Market, use the Euro and that Catalans would continue to enjoy European citizenship. For Guirao, the worst future scenario would be a unilateral declaration of independence "without a clear electoral mandate", as this would make recognition more difficult. 

The implications of independence in the security field

Associate Professor of International Relations at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow Artur Gruszczak analysed the implications of the possible independence of Catalonia from a security point of view. "The right to self-determination in itself does not constitute any specific threat" if the result of its application maintains "the existing security structures and levels". Starting from the basis that the EU member states would claim a soft transition to avoid risks and uncertainties, Gruszczak stated that any solution leaving Catalonia outside of NATO and the EU agencies such as Frontex would be a bad solution.