EU must deal with 'political and territorial conflicts' through democracy | The Parliament Magazine
Written by Ramon Tremosa i Balcells MEP on 29 April 2014 in Feature
Allowing
the people of Catalonia to hold a binding referendum would 'show the
world' that Europe handles conflicts through 'democracy', says
Ramon Tremosa i Balcells.
On
8 April, the Spanish congress rejected a bill that would have
transferred the authority to call a referendum on self-determination to
the Catalan regional parliament. Contrary to the constructive attitude
of UK prime minister David Cameron towards Scotland, the attitude of
Spanish political forces continues to be a 'no' to everything.
Unfortunately, Madrid doesn't seem to understand the Catalan desire
for freedom and to be able to choose our own path. It is not just a
caprice; it is a deep rooted and growing sentiment across Catalan
society.
"Contrary to the constructive attitude of UK prime minister David
Cameron towards Scotland, the attitude of Spanish political forces
continues to be a 'no' to everything"
The will of the Catalan people cannot be stopped by a vote in the
Spanish congress or by a threat of expulsion from the EU. Catalan people
will continue to act as they always did; in a dignified, positive,
constructive, enthusiastic, democratic and peaceful manner as they
showed to the world in a massive nonviolent demonstration that took
place on 11 September 2013 called "la via Catalana" where 1.6 million
citizens held hands over 400 kilometres from the north to the south of
Catalonia asking to vote.
On 9 November we will go to the polls to decide our future, Europe
needs to grasp the Catalan will of self-determination as a measure of
its success, as an opportunity to show its strength to the world and its
commitment to the basic fundamental values of its treaties. Permitting
Catalans to vote would set a model of best practices and show to the
world that the European way to deal with political and territorial
conflicts is with full respect for democracy.
About the author
Ramon Tremosa i Balcells is a Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya member of the European parliament
