The European Commission President has again dismissed the possibility of a European mediation in Spain, as he claimed the Catalan independence debate was not the EU’s businesses.
Mr Juncker’s position on the referendum has been no secret, after he repeatedly told reporters in three languages that the referendum of October 1 was not legal and would not be accepted by the EU.
But he has also now revealed his private fears that if Catalonia succeeds in separating from Spain, the independence debate could cause a rise in separatist movements across the continent.
And he insisted Brussels could not cope if its current 28 members, soon to be 27 once Britain leaves the bloc, saw a massive rise to 98 if autonomous regions sought their freedom.
The EC President said: “If we allow it, even if it is not just our business, the independence of Catalonia, others will do the same. I would not like that.
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“I would not like a European Union with 98 state in 15 years. It is already relatively difficult with 28 states.
“It will not be easy with 27, but with 98 I imagine it as something completely impossible.”
At a ceremony in Luxembourg, Mr Juncker said that “some time ago” he asked the Spanish president to take initiatives to deal with the situation in Catalonia.
He said: “Something has been done, but other things not.”
Mr Juncker, who has spoken on many occasions these weeks about the political crisis in Spain, has “appealed to the sense of responsibility of all parties”.
And he “explained why the European Commission does not interfere” and should not interfere in this type of issue, although many voices in Catalonia and other countries have requested its help and mediation as an independent body.
He added: “If the Commission, President Tusk or the European Council were in that direction, when only one of the parties asks for mediation, it would lead to serious disruptions and that is why we can not and should not mediate.”
His comments come just days after Mr Juncker insisted he did not want Catalonia to break away from Spain as he revealed he was “very worried” about the impact a split could have on the European Union.
In a speech at Luxembourg University, he said he was “very worried” about separatist tendencies in Europe and had encouraged Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to ensure the situation was brought under control.
Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has given the Catalan leader five days to clarify whether or not he has declared independence.