Spain’s Madrid government, headed by Mariano Rajoy, has received the concrete backing of Brussels and key EU member states as Catalonia‘s fate hangs in the balance.
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as the French President Emmanuel Macron and the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have all given their support to the leader of the ruling Popular Party (PP).
EU spokesman Margaritis Schinas told journalists on Monday that Mr Juncker had spoken with the German Chancellor on a number of issues including the ongoing crisis in Catalonia.
The spokesman said that the two leaders had discussed that issue of Catalonia and reiterated their position that violence should be avoided.
Concern is growing in EU capitals about the negative impact of the crisis on the Spanish economy, the fourth largest in the euro zone, and on possible spillovers to other economies of the bloc.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
The EU Commission has repeatedly urged Catalan and Spanish leaders to find a political solution.
The support given in public statements by EU leaders to Mr Rajoy is combined with concern expressed in private about how the Spanish government’s use of the Guardia Civil to prevent Catalans from voting last week in an independence referendum could backfire.
The Spanish government apologised for the first time on Friday for the police use of violence.
Some EU states are worried that talk of Catalan independence could fuel secessionist feelings in other parts of Europe.
Mrs Merkel has also raised the issue with with Mr Juncker and is set to discuss the crisis with European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday to address “European issues”.
The German leader has also spoken to Mr Rajoy on Monday and last spoke on Saturday.
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said: “In her conversation with Mariano Rajoy, the Chancellor ratified her support for the unity of Spain and they both discussed possible ways to strengthen the internal dialogue in Spain within the framework of the Constitution.”
Mr Rajoy’s talk with Merkel was not very different from the one he had with Mr Macron last Friday and the one he had with Mr Juncker himself on Monday.
The leaders appear to be in agreement that they support Mr Rajoy’s wish to maintain the Spanish status quo and prevent Catalonia from declaring an independent state.
Previously Mr Juncker had stated previously that an independent Catalonia would have to apply to joint the European Union.
In his speech to the regional parliament earlier this evening, Mr Puigdemont said that he wanted to “follow the people’s will for Catalonia to become an independent state” but fell short of declaring a unilateral declaration of independence that had been widely expected after a contentious referendum at the start of the month.