In this photo taken on Nov. 8, 2012, supporters of center-right Catalan Nationalist Coalition (CiU) leader Artur Mas wave pro-independence “estelada” flags during a campaign meeting in Barcelona, Spain. Catalonia holds elections on Sunday that will be seen as a test of the regional government's plans to hold a referendum on independence, and one of the key issues emerging is the theoretical place of a free Catalonia in Europe. — AP As in towns across this wealthy northwestern region, the maze-like cobblestone streets of Girona's medieval quarter are fluttering with flags in favor of Catalonia's independence. Here, however, there is also a smattering of flags bearing the slogan: “Catalonia, A New European State.” It goes to the heart of a Catalan conundrum. While the separatist dream of millions has never felt so close to becoming a reality, independence fervor is now coming up against the cold, hard facts of what breaking free would really mean. Few realize that this Spanish region famed for its trading prowess would be shut out of the European Union for years, a huge hurdle to doing business with its most important trading partners. EU officials say an independent Catalonia would face the same membership conditions of any other candidate nation. Catalonia holds elections on Sunday that will be seen as a test of the regional government's plans to hold a referendum on independence, and one of the key issues emerging is the theoretical place of a free Catalonia in Europe. Polls suggest that many Catalans haven't thought through the consequences of freedom. A survey published by El Pais newspaper this month showed that while nearly half of Catalans support independence, the number drops to 37 percent if it means being out of the EU. Tough membership conditions aren't the only thing possibly standing in the way. The European Union's treaty states that each of the 27 member states can veto a candidate nation's accession, meaning that a vengeful Spain could block Catalonia from joining the club. “Now we want to be a state inside Europe,” said Josep Matamala, who, along with friend Miquel Casals, created the banner that combines the slogan of EU aspiration with the red-and-yellow stripes, blue triangle and white star of the “estelada” flag that symbolizes Catalonia's independence drive. Catalonia's regional president, Artur Mas, who is leading the independence charge and holding rallies bristling with European Union flags, has voiced optimism — perhaps mere wishful thinking — that an independent Catalonia would be swiftly embraced into the EU fold. In a recent speech in Brussels he declared: “Catalonia has never in its history let Europe down, now we trust Europe will not let us down.”
And there are pro-independence voters who simply can't fathom being cast out of the EU. “I imagine that if faced with a majority of Catalans who vote yes for independence in a referendum, (the EU) wouldn't be able to turn its back on us,” said 35-year-old Girona music teacher Merce Escarra Girona, one of Spain's richest cities, is an example of what Catalans call “seny” — roughly the equivalent to “practical sense.” It typifies the Catalan character of being hardworking and businesslike. But these days, Girona, like the rest of Catalonia, is experiencing an outburst of “rauxa,” seny's polar opposite, meaning “wild exuberance.” And the source of that is a separatist passion ignited by Spain's ongoing economic crisis. In recent years, grassroots pro-independence groups have held unofficial referendums on independence in towns across Catalonia. This “fake-it-till-you-make-it” attitude has found an extreme expression in dozens of Catalan villages, which have declared themselves “free Catalan territories.” But symbolism's one thing, hard economics another. While most of Catalonia's business community is taking a wait-and-see attitude, Jose Manuel Lara, the president of media giant Planeta, said he would move his company from Barcelona to Spain if Catalonia went independent, in order to remain based in the EU. — AP
