The debate ‘Catalan independence within the context of austerity and
sovereignty crisis in Europe’ is one of the several events organised by
the ANC England. the English branch of the Catalan National Assembly,
the grassroots organisation responsible for the last five years' massive
pro-independence mobilisations in Catalonia. The perception that Europe
and the rest of the world have of the Catalan process has been the main
issue under debate. “The world knows what is happening in Catalonia”,
said ‘The Guardian’ blogger, Luke Stobart.
"There are misconceptions and stereotypes about the
independence movement”, North American writer Liz Castro, ANC’s
International Committee Chair, stated. “It is not a just about
selfishness and cultural clash”, she remarked. “The spark of the
independence movement was not because of economics, but because of
dignity”, Castro added in reference to the Spanish Court cut of the
Catalan Statute of Autonomy, back in 2010. ANC's member also pointed to
the frustration and lack of confidence with politicians.
Achieve a better international support, by raising awareness of the obstacles
"People outside Catalonia is very impressed by the grade of
mobilization in the streets”, Stobart explained. “The image of the human
chain was really powerful on an international scale”, he recalled,
“after that many people believed that Catalonia had already achieved
independence or, at least, held a referendum”.
In that sense, Stobart insisted on the need the to “explain the
process to the world” and in particular, “to explain the problems the
Catalan people have faced in order to exercise their right to decide”.
“The right to decide has hit massive obstacles in Catalonia”, he said.
According to the collaborator of ‘The Guardian’, giving visibility to
that fact is paramount to achieve “a wider international support” for
the process.
Comparison with Scotland
The chair of the group of the Scottish National Party (SNP) ‘Friends
of Catalonia’ insisted on the ‘sympathy that Scottish nation has for the
Catalan independence process”. In that sense, the University of Glasgow
Professor Neil Davidson pointed that both processes are similar, but
has admitted that the “constitutional difficulties facing Catalonia are
actually more difficult that the ones facing Scotland". “The British
Constitution does not say anything about maintaining the union of the
state”, he added. Hence, “the more international support the Catalan
process gain, the better it will be for the process”.
The chair of SNP ‘Friends of Catalonia’, David McDonald, called for
synergies between Catalans and Scottish: “they need to work closer
together”. “We should recognise that our right to vote is the same as
Catalonia’s right to vote and only by working together we would be able
to achieve our share aims, our share dreams”, McDonald concluded.
With regard to the future relation with Europe, in case Scotland and
Catalonia became independents, Davidson has referred to the “threats” of
being pushed out of the EU as “unlikely”. “In case they stayed outside,
the EU will obviously want them back in, since it is both Scotland and
Catalonia are important countries for Europe, advanced and developed”,
Davidson predicted.
