http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/...96851.html
A week ago, about 45k supporters of Catalan independence amazingly turned up in Brussels to back their beleaguered PM, Puigdemont, and cheerily demonstrated for Catalan indy and I pondered, 'What did they achieve'? It was indeed a great display of commitment and, as a Scot, I mused how amazing it would be if we could get 45k folk to go and demonstrate for Scot indy in Paisley or Aberdeen, never mind persuading them to go to Brussels to do it! However, in reality was this faith in the integrity of the EU ill judged by these Catalans? They were effectively snubbed again by the institutions and senior reps of the EU who are not just hostile to Catalan indy but they are actively working to thwart it! Shocking but true! IMO the Catalans are focused on building a common European home but they are failing to take account of the negative political evolution of the EU! This is something that many Scots have already grasped but many others need to wizen up too! Protecting their economic interests and the interests of Euro banks is clearly high on the list of doctrines that are favoured by the EU hierarchy. I'd add one extreme doctrine to EU practise and that is , 'We will turn a blind eye to human right violations if it suits us, esp in Spain'!! And yet the very foundation of post war moves to Euro unity was premised on the notion that Euro institutions had a legal right to interfere in states where human and civil rights were being abused! Changed days and note that Castilian Spanish has been re-imposed in the public administration of Catalonia after the Catalan parliament was deposed - absolutely outrageous and 'not a peep' of criticism uttered from EU leaders. I hope the Catalans succeed in the face of an orchestrated campaign by a desperate RW minority Spanish govt but they had better not expect much support from the EU!
A week ago, about 45k supporters of Catalan independence amazingly turned up in Brussels to back their beleaguered PM, Puigdemont, and cheerily demonstrated for Catalan indy and I pondered, 'What did they achieve'? It was indeed a great display of commitment and, as a Scot, I mused how amazing it would be if we could get 45k folk to go and demonstrate for Scot indy in Paisley or Aberdeen, never mind persuading them to go to Brussels to do it! However, in reality was this faith in the integrity of the EU ill judged by these Catalans? They were effectively snubbed again by the institutions and senior reps of the EU who are not just hostile to Catalan indy but they are actively working to thwart it! Shocking but true! IMO the Catalans are focused on building a common European home but they are failing to take account of the negative political evolution of the EU! This is something that many Scots have already grasped but many others need to wizen up too! Protecting their economic interests and the interests of Euro banks is clearly high on the list of doctrines that are favoured by the EU hierarchy. I'd add one extreme doctrine to EU practise and that is , 'We will turn a blind eye to human right violations if it suits us, esp in Spain'!! And yet the very foundation of post war moves to Euro unity was premised on the notion that Euro institutions had a legal right to interfere in states where human and civil rights were being abused! Changed days and note that Castilian Spanish has been re-imposed in the public administration of Catalonia after the Catalan parliament was deposed - absolutely outrageous and 'not a peep' of criticism uttered from EU leaders. I hope the Catalans succeed in the face of an orchestrated campaign by a desperate RW minority Spanish govt but they had better not expect much support from the EU!