Catalan premier admits that entry to EU may be difficult for region

Report of comments by Catalan regional premier, Artur Mas, in a tv interview on the 13 September 2015 regarding the challenges facing an independent Catalonia attempting to become a member of the European Union, with Spain almost certainly opposing the move.

Separately, the Spanish banking sector warned on the 18 September 2015 that all banks with a presence in Catalonia 'would face severe problems of judicial insecurity' in the event of a Unilateral Declaration of Independence after the 27 September 2015 S elections.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Catalonian parliamentary election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalonian-parliamentary-election-2015/

El Pais, 17.09.15: Breakaway regions lose EU status, European Commission confirms http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/09/17/inenglish/1442498331_707359.html

The Local.es, 17.09.15: Independence for Catalonia would mean leaving EU, warns Brussels http://www.thelocal.es/20150917/independence-for-catalonia-means-leaving-bloc-warns-eu

CNA, 17.09.15: Brussels insists that an independent Catalonia would remain outside the EU http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/brussels-insists-that-an-independent-catalonia-would-remain-outside-the-eu

CNA, 17.09.15: Swedish Committee of European Affairs: “EU can’t be used as an excuse” against Catalonia’s independence http://www.catalannewsagency.com/item/swedish-committee-of-european-affairs-eu-can-t-be-used-as-an-excuse-against-catalonia-s-independence

El País, 18.09.15: Catalonia appeals to foreign embassies for independence support http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/09/18/inenglish/1442563332_673523.html

El País, 18.09.15: Banks warn they may leave Catalonia if it breaks away from Spain http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/09/18/inenglish/1442584444_390340.html

CNA, 18.09.15: Spanish banks suggest they might leave Catalonia if it becomes independent http://www.catalannewsagency.com/business/item/spanish-banks-suggest-they-might-leave-catalonia-if-it-becomes-independent

EurActiv, 23.09.15: [Interview] Catalan rep: Commission position is 'too partial, too easy and incomplete' http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/catalan-rep-commission-position-too-partial-too-easy-and-incomplete-317865

CNA, 23.09.15: European Comission didn’t authorise any official answer regarding Catalonia’s independence http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/european-comission-didn-t-authorise-any-official-answer-regarding-catalonia-s-independence

EUObserver, 24.09.15: Juncker's answer on Catalonia grew in translation https://euobserver.com/news/130412

EUObserver, 20.10.15: Ombudsman raps EU institutions on Catalonia https://euobserver.com/institutional/130741

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