Catalonia’s regional assembly has recently passed a resolution approving a plan for secession from Spain by 2017, despite warnings from the central government in Madrid that this violates the constitution. This is a decision that could have deep implications for both the region’s stability and Spain’s future. Although it might seem a reasonable request from Catalans, allowing Catalonia to secede from Spain would be a mistake.
Although the Catalan separatist movement was widely present during Spain’s economic troubles of the 20th century, enthusiasm for it has only resurfaced in recent years. But why does Catalonia want to become its own nation in the first place? And why is this an issue?
The simple answer is autonomy. Despite currently enjoying high degrees of self-government with numerous administrative powers, Catalonia seems to want more control over its local government and less federal interference. However, in 2010 Spain’s Constitutional Court decided to strike down part of a renewed charter of self-government that had been passed by the Catalonian Parliament and approved by Catalan voters through a referendum. This was a low blow for a region that seeks a lot of autonomy in its local affairs.
Economic woes in Spain have produced a state of high tension between the central government and Catalonia. Spain’s economic stagnation has generated significant unemployment, and Catalans believe their taxes pay for other Spaniards in the south who live off government handouts.
These economic and political factors have set the stage for the separatist movement in Catalonia — but many Catalonians fail to realize independence is not the right choice.
Catalonia keeps assuring the international community that, as a new country, it will be able to remain within the Eurozone. However, this isn’t necessarily true. According to European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas, “If part of a member state ceases to be part of that state … the (EU treaties) would no longer apply to that territory.” Seceding from Spain would therefore also imply seceding from the European Union.
The EU provides billions in structural funds to Catalonia as a region of Spain, as well as EU citizenship to its citizens. If Catalonia were to become its own country, it would immediately be dropped out of the bloc and would have to reapply for membership — leaving thousands of business without funds and millions of people without European membership. According to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Catalonia would not only have to reapply, but also “take its place at the back of the queue, behind those other countries applying to become members of the EU” — a process that could take a long, long time.
The economic implications of allowing Catalonia to secede are too severe for Spain. An article by the Yale Economic Review analyzes the implications such a separation would have. According to the article, Catalonia is a region that accounts for over 16 percent of Spain’s population and 19 percent of its GDP. If it were to secede, the Spanish economy would weaken immensely and “potentially destabilize the fragile global economy.” In such a scenario, the article states, “Catalonia and Spain would fall into such economic and political turmoil that it might be in the best interest of both parties to reach a negotiated solution.”
Although the economic implications independence would have on the region should not serve as the main argument against secession, it does emphasize the importance of the central government’s role in addressing the issue. If Spain’s central government does not find a solution to the crisis at hand, its economy could eventually dissolve.
Besides these economic implications, the structural consequences of secession from Spain also seem dangerous for the country’s future. Catalonia’s secession could set the stage for the fragmentation and dissolution of the entire country. After all, Catalonia is not the only province culturally different from the rest of the country— the Basque Country is another region of Spain that has rising political tensions with the central government.
Increasing autonomy for Catalonia would not only mitigate the independence movement, but also ensure Spain’s economic stability. Although Catalonia does enjoy numerous administrative powers over education, policing, education and local legislation, the region claims it’s not enough. I believe a truly autonomous region would imply further strengthening these administrative powers and flexibilizing the country’s constitution in order to restore the charter of self-government that was struck down by the Constitutional Court five years ago.
Spain’s prime minister needs to realize this is a war that cannot be fought from both fronts. On one hand Spain’s central government is fighting against the Catalan independence movement while on the other it is refusing to provide more autonomy to the region. By amending the constitution in order to make it more flexible and implementing the legal mechanisms necessary to provide Catalonia and other provinces with more autonomy, the Spanish government will ensure an efficient solution to the crisis at hand.
Spaniards and the central government have the fate of their country in their hands. Whether they flourish or perish is up to them.
Carlos Lopez is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at c.lopez@cavalierdaily.com.
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