Separatism. Making Europe stronger

Series Title
Series Details October 2014
Publication Date 10/10/2014
Content Type

It is October 2014. Europe is still digesting Scotland’s recent referendum on independence.

Scots ultimately decided to remain in their 307-year union with the rest of the UK. But it sparked quite a conversation. And the promises made in the run-up to the vote are set to lead to change across the board - in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The prospect that a part of the UK – a major EU member state – could simply break off and become a new country attracted headlines worldwide and inspired regionalist and separatists movements everywhere.

But the independence question is not finished. Soon all eyes will be on Catalonia, the Spanish region up for a consultative referendum on independence on 9 November 2014.

What does this bout of separatism mean for the European Union? Will it strengthen or weaken integration?

It will certainly gave regional representatives something extra to talk about as they gathered for the 2014 Open Week in Brussels in October. EUobserver Magazine takes a look at some of the issues with a series of features.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://euobserver.com/media/src/bcbf5537a696069976ba3356d703e563.pdf
Related Links
ESO: Scottish independence referendum, 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/scottish-independence-referendum-2014/
ESO: Background information: Catalan self-determination referendum http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalan-self-determination-referendum/
EurActiv [Interview], 13.10.14: CoR President: Belgium’s decentralised governance is a model for the EU http://www.euractiv.com/sections/regional-policy/cor-president-belgiums-model-autonomous-regions-model-eu-309125

Subject Categories
Countries / Regions