Verklaring voorzitter Europese Raad Van Rompuy over eventualiteit Catalaanse onafhankelijkheid (en)

EUROPEAN COUNCIL THE PRESIDT

Madrid, 12 December 2013 EUCO

PRESSE 576 PR PCE 241

Remarks by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy i, on Catalonia

At a press conference with Prime Minister Rajoy in Madrid on 12 December 2013, the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, made the following remarks in reply to a question on the situation of Catalonia vis-à-vis the European Union in the event of independence:

"I will make three points. First, it is not for me to express a position on questions of internal organisation related to the constitutional arrangements in a Member State.

Second, I just want to recall some of the principles that would apply in such a scenario. The separation of one part of a Member State or the creation of a new State would not be neutral as regards the EU Treaties. The European Union has been established by the relevant treaties among the Member States. The treaties apply to the Member States. If a part of the territory of a Member State ceases to be a part of that state because that territory becomes a new independent state, the treaties will no longer apply to that territory. In other words, a new independent state would, by the fact of its independence, become a third country with respect to the Union and the treaties would, from the day of its independence, not apply anymore on its territory. Under article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, any European State which respects the principles set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union may apply to become a member of the Union according to the known accession procedures. In any case, this would be subject to ratification by all Member States and the Applicant State.

Third and more personally, I am confident that Spain will remain a united and reliable Member State of the European Union."