Catalonia independence: 'Shame on the EU!' Bloc CONDEMNED for failing to criticise Spain
THE EUROPEAN UNION was shamed after it ignored the violence during the Catalonia independence referendum.
Andrew Rosindell: Catalonia crisis brings shame on the EU
Catalonia independence was seemingly ignored by the European Union, prompting Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell to condemn the lack of intervention from the bloc after the referendum was marred by disturbing scenes of violence.
Horrifying images showed riot police lashing out with batons when Catalan local attempted to vote in an independence referendum, deemed unofficial by Spain’s Government, last Sunday.
Nearly 900 people were injured after pro-independence supporters pushed ahead with the vote despite it being deemed “illegal” by Madrid.
Almost two million people cast their votes despite the heavy-handed response from police, with 90 per cent agreeing Catalonia should break away from Spain, according to a local count.
Shame on Spain and shame on the European Union
And now, Madrid has dispatched hundreds of soldiers to Catalonia as the region vows to declare its independence from Spain.
Two convoys of trucks, which includes a unit of troops with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, are said to be moving toward Barcelona to support the police as tensions in the area remain high.
Speaking on BBC Daily Politics, Mr Rosindell, Vice-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Catalonia, said he would “absolutely” have wanted to see more international condemnation of the police brutality witnessed on Sunday.
He said: “It is atrocious that in, what is supposed to be, a modern democratic country like Spain, a member of the European Union, you’re seeing effectively police being given political instruction to beat up people in a democratic referendum.
MEP slams Brussels for doing the 'bare minimum' for Catalonia
“Now, it may not be a constitutional referendum in Spanish law but it’s still a reflection of how people feel, and to allow them to vote without intimidation would have been the right policy.
“What is happening in Spain today should bring shame on Spain and shame on the European Union.”
Mr Rosindell said there should be “outside mediation” to resolve the issue between Catalonia and Madrid.
“Spain can’t be trusted to deal with this,” he added. “At the end of the day, it’s for the Catalonian people to determine their own future.”
Instead of condemning the violence, European Union bosses instead issued a shocking ultimatum to Barcelona.
Brussels warned Catalonia risks “abandoning the European Union” by splitting from Spain, as the bloc scrambles to avoid a Catalexit which would see the bloc disintegrate further after an already-chaotic 18 months.
A spokesman for the European People’s Party, the largest group inside the European Parliament, said Catalonia needed to acknowledge the “truth”.
He said: “Someone needs to tell the Catalan people the truth.
“If you contest the law to abandon Spain you also need to know that you abandon the EU.”