What next for independence movements in Europe?

The EU – and its member-states – should not rest on their laurels: these independence movements are only going to get stronger.

The onus is now on the EU to figure out how internal secession within its borders might actually work – because there are now several wannabe states knocking on its doors. If the citizenry of these ‘stateless nations’ believe that their future is best secured with the trappings of statehood, the resulting configuration would be a ‘Europe’ fractured into a number of smaller territorial entities.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Catalan self-determination referendum http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalan-self-determination-referendum/

ESO: Scottish independence referendum, 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/scottish-independence-referendum-2014/

ESO: Background information: Europe is witnessing the establishment of a new regional order, built on territories such as Scotland, Catalonia and the Basque Country http://www.europeansources.info/record/europe-is-witnessing-the-establishment-of-a-new-regional-order-built-on-territories-such-as-scotland-catalonia-and-the-basque-country/

ESO: Background information: Italian regionalist parties will find it difficult to import the ‘Scottish model’ in their push for independence http://www.europeansources.info/record/italian-regionalist-parties-will-find-it-difficult-to-import-the-scottish-model-in-their-push-for-independence/

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