Separatism in Europe
The EU promotes regionalisation, but is it at the same time promoting the separatist efforts of individual regions? There are currently separatist movements in South Tyrol and northern Italy, in Corsica and in Catalonia, as well as in Flanders and in Scotland.
euro|topics dossiers on separatism in Europe
Main focus of Friday, 2. March 2007
Several countries in the EU are confronted with separatist demands from communities or regions aspiring to a greater autonomy, or even complete independence. » more
Several countries in the EU are confronted with separatist demands from communities or regions aspiring to a greater autonomy, or even complete independence.
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Minorities, » Europe
Main focus of Tuesday, 20. June 2006
On Sunday, June 18, 73.8 percent of Catalan voters approved a plan that grants them increased autonomy within the Spanish state. The Spanish Prime minister, ... » more
On Sunday, June 18, 73.8 percent of Catalan voters approved a plan that grants them increased autonomy within the Spanish state. The Spanish Prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who is in the process of negotiating similar arrangements with several other regions, is putting Spain on a course toward greater devolution.
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Spain
Main focus of Monday, 11. June 2007
The legislative elections held in Belgium on Sunday, June 10th, saw the clear victory of the Christian-democrats who, after eight years in the opposition, have ... » more
The legislative elections held in Belgium on Sunday, June 10th, saw the clear victory of the Christian-democrats who, after eight years in the opposition, have high hopes of leading the next government coalition. The negotiations that have just begun could well lead to Yves Leterme, leader of the Flemish Christian-democrats, being named the next Belgian Prime Minister.
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Belgium
Main focus of Thursday, 3. May 2007
Regional and local elections are being held this Thursday, May 3rd in Great Britain. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), in favour of Scottish ... » more
Regional and local elections are being held this Thursday, May 3rd in Great Britain. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), in favour of Scottish independence, are leading in polls and could become the dominant force in the local Parliament. What might the consequences of such a victory be for the United Kingdom and Europe ?
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom, » Europe
Spain
La Vanguardia - Spain | Friday, 31. March 2006
The journalist Antoni Puigverd comments on the decision by the Spanish parliament on Thursday, March 30 to grant broader autonomy to Catalonia. He believes the ... » more
The journalist Antoni Puigverd comments on the decision by the Spanish parliament on Thursday, March 30 to grant broader autonomy to Catalonia. He believes the proposal, which must be submitted to a referendum in June in Catalonia, represents "a meeting point" between the different positions. "Nobody, honestly, can say that Spain is breaking up, even if some people logically fear that the current course may result in the country's eventual fracture. Nobody can say that Spain is not responding to Catalan aspirations, even if the current course entails an end to the dream of sovereignty. When a suitable solution to a complex problem is found, one can only applaud. It might not please everyone, but credit is due to the politicians who, rather than razing the house, find a way to restore it."
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ABC - Spain | Friday, 10. February 2006
"The agreement reached yesterday in the Congress of Deputies between members of the Popular Party and the socialists on approving the statute of the autonomous community ... » more
"The agreement reached yesterday in the Congress of Deputies between members of the Popular Party and the socialists on approving the statute of the autonomous community of Valencia is good news in light of the territorial system currently in force. Common sense and a determination to negotiate prevailed in the end over opportunistic interests," the daily writes. "Consensus between two major parties on the national stage should be the rule, and not the exception, when it comes to the territorial architecture of the State. There is no doubt that the model currently in place opens a path to self-government for nationalities and regions that integrate into the Spanish nation. ... A simple comparison with the Catalan project demonstrates that the statute of Valencia is a model for updating and improving the existing system."
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - Germany | Wednesday, 18. January 2006
The whole of Spain is preoccupied with the question of "whether the region of Catalonia will one day be allowed to call itself a 'nation' ... » more
The whole of Spain is preoccupied with the question of "whether the region of Catalonia will one day be allowed to call itself a 'nation' and make its division from the rest of Spain slightly more visible," Paul Ingendaay reports. He goes on to describe the grotesque impact attempts to achieve autonomy have on everyday life in Barcelona. "The language police have indeed stepped up their activities and are subjecting the populace of Catalonia to intense surveillance. In 2004, four times as many businesses, bars and restaurants as in 2003 were fined for failing to offer their services and wares in Catalan as well as Spanish. How about a little foreign flair, like in New York or Berlin? Well, not in Barcelona. Here, customers are entitled to complain if the staff doesn't speak Catalan when serving them. This means that people who speak Spanish only have a hard time finding jobs in Barcelona, despite the fact that Catalonia is part of Spain."
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El Periódico de Catalunya - Spain | Monday, 19. June 2006
The local daily argues that the June 18 referendum on a new autonomy plan for Catalonia marks a failure for politicians. For while 73.8 percent ... » more
The local daily argues that the June 18 referendum on a new autonomy plan for Catalonia marks a failure for politicians. For while 73.8 percent of the population voted 'Yes', only half of all Catalonian voters turned up at the polls. "The abstention of half of all Catalonians should be food for thought for the political parties who failed to mobilise the people despite the importance of the consultation. ... This shows just how removed ordinary people feel from politicians. The man in the street is more concerned about issues pertaining to his daily existence than about obscure nationalist concepts. ... Now the approved plan must be implemented and prove, through concrete deeds, that the new autonomy status is capable of responding to real needs. It is perhaps in this way that a relationship of trust between politicians and a sizeable part of our society might be reestablished."
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ABC - Spain | Thursday, 8. March 2007
The chronicler Valentí Puig bemoans the fact that Spain is turning away from European news because of its own problems, such as that of ... » more
The chronicler Valentí Puig bemoans the fact that Spain is turning away from European news because of its own problems, such as that of Basque separatism. "Even the passionate pro-European fervour, a touch outlandish, apparent over these past few years, has not survived the head-spinning terrorist threat. And yet now is the time to discuss Spain's place in the EU and the role it can play. ... It is unequivocally unhealthy and counter-productive for Spain not to be involved in discussing subjects. (...) Overwhelmed by pressing topics of current affairs, politicians are advancing at a snail's pace on the European field. Meanwhile total ignorance is rife in intellectual and cultural circles concerning European reality, apart from among specialists on the subject. Some people can even be heard confusing euroscepticism with a lack of interest in the EU. We should on the contrary be giving thanks to technocratic governments of the 50s and 60s, for having opened the way toward the European community."
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Main focus of Thursday, 3. May 2007
Regional and local elections are being held this Thursday, May 3rd in Great Britain. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), in favour of Scottish ... » more
Regional and local elections are being held this Thursday, May 3rd in Great Britain. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), in favour of Scottish independence, are leading in polls and could become the dominant force in the local Parliament. What might the consequences of such a victory be for the United Kingdom and Europe ?
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom, » Europe
El País - Spain | Wednesday, 1. February 2006
Andrés de Blas Guerrero, a law professor at Spain's National University of Distance Education, analyses the way in which Spain's various nationalities attempt to live ... » more
Andrés de Blas Guerrero, a law professor at Spain's National University of Distance Education, analyses the way in which Spain's various nationalities attempt to live together. "Understanding and cooperation must prevail in the relationship between the different nationalities of Spain, because this is what the overwhelming majority of the population desires. An understanding and cooperation of a kind that was lacking during the genesis of the plan to reform Catalonia's status. Now, Catalonia knows the degree to which its political affirmation depends on the help and consent of the rest of Spain - in the same way that the State and the nation need to ensure that the various national groups are integrated and satisfied. Perhaps the time has come for everyone to adhere to a new blueprint for discussion based on trust, understanding, and even sympathy."
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ABC - Spain | Thursday, 13. July 2006
The conservative daily, a staunch defender of Spain's unity, thinks it is deplorable that Catalonia has requested a separate space from that of Spain to ... » more
The conservative daily, a staunch defender of Spain's unity, thinks it is deplorable that Catalonia has requested a separate space from that of Spain to present its literature at the Frankfurt Book Fair [from October 4 to 8, 2006]. "This is totally absurd, since so many works from Catalonia are published in Spanish and not just in catalan. ... Languages are an instrument of social cohesion and must not become tools for discriminating against citizens, or serve the purposes of political revenge. Certain nationalist ideologies claim to reject spanish in the name of a conception that gives precedence to supposed collective rights over individual ones. It is regrettable that at a moment when the global influence of spanish is growing, some minority groups are attempting to eradicate it within Spain itself."
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More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Minorities, » Spain
El Mundo - Spain | Monday, 9. October 2006
The daily reacts in an editorial to the football encounter in Barcelona on Sunday, October 8th, with the confrontation of Catalonia and the Basque Country. ... » more
The daily reacts in an editorial to the football encounter in Barcelona on Sunday, October 8th, with the confrontation of Catalonia and the Basque Country. "Presented by the respective independent television channels as a match 'between nations', this encounter allowed the display of all the symbolism of independent movements, from flags to 'national' anthems... .The political importance of this match is incontrovertible. ... It embodies the continuous policy of concession practised by Zapatero [the head of the Spanish government] who requests 'time' before it is possible to observe its fruit. The problem is that even the most optimistic and the most confident people recognise every day that the process is irreversible. Separatism is winning ground both on the football field and on the street."
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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Minorities, » Spain
Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany | Wednesday, 9. May 2007
This autumn, the Frankfurt Book Fair will feature a "guest region" instead of a "guest country": » more
This autumn, the Frankfurt Book Fair will feature a "guest region" instead of a "guest country": Catalonia. Ijoma Mangold reports that this has sparked an outright "cultural war" in Spain: "It's all about identity politics, the instrumentalisation of literature for national interests – because Catalonia defines itself as a nation according to the latest autonomy statue. Its appearance at the book fair will not be easy. Because almost all Catalan authors who are internationally recognized write in Spanish… But the Ramon Llull Catalan Cultural Institute, which is organizing the 'guest region' appearance on behalf of the government, only wanted to invite those Catalan writers who actually write in Catalan… Now, the Ramon Llull Institute wants to bring 70 (heavily subsidized) authors to Frankfurt. In Spain, they are laughing at this number, and not without malice: Where will they find so many writers?"
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Belgium
Le Soir - Belgium | Wednesday, 18. July 2007
Yves Leterme, head of the Flemish Christian Democratic Pary (CDV), won the elections held June 10th, appears to be set to run the next Belgian ... » more
Yves Leterme, head of the Flemish Christian Democratic Pary (CDV), won the elections held June 10th, appears to be set to run the next Belgian government. His campaign promises to give more power to the regions worries Bénédicte Vaes. "Don't say that [Flanders, where Leterme is prime minister] wants to split or regionalise. Say that it wants to make us more res-pon-sible. A positive word, very politically correct. A word which is not suspected of being able to break down solidarity. If they accept to be financially responsible, the Wallons and the Brusselois will have to be as effective as the Flemish. If not, it will cost them. Their social security will fall. ... The Flemish have always held the reigns in regional negotiations. Every time they [the Wallons and Brusselois] get ripped-off."
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El País - Spain | Thursday, 14. June 2007
Yves Leterme, leader of the Flemish Christian-Democrat Party, is the candidate running for the post of Prime Minister after the legislative elections in Belgium. He is advocating greater autonomy for Belgian regions (Brussels, the Flemish region and the French-speaking region). The Spanish daily assesses this. "The message is clear: » more
Yves Leterme, leader of the Flemish Christian-Democrat Party, is the candidate running for the post of Prime Minister after the legislative elections in Belgium. He is advocating greater autonomy for Belgian regions (Brussels, the Flemish region and the French-speaking region). The Spanish daily assesses this. "The message is clear: the Flemish want to keep a distance, and even be separated from the French-speakers. Leterme ... has exploited desire, widespread among the Flemish, to reduce the financial transfer of Flemish riches to the poor French-speaking regions... . Now, with 18.5% of the votes and 30 seats out of 150 in Parliament, Leterme is obliged to find allies. ... He will have to seduce parties representing French-speaking Walloons and modify his propositions without giving up the 'State reform' that he has promised. ... As a minimally realistic measure necessary to conquer power, Leterme is presenting the idea of a 'Belgium built on an historical compromise' between the Frech-speaking community and the Flemish, something that appears more and more difficult everyday."
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Le Soir - Belgium | Monday, 26. February 2007
This week , the daily published extracts of a 'Manifesto for French-speaking unity' developed by two former members of Belgian Parliament, Serge Moureaux and Antoinette ... » more
This week , the daily published extracts of a 'Manifesto for French-speaking unity' developed by two former members of Belgian Parliament, Serge Moureaux and Antoinette Spaak, who warn against the separatist desires of the Flemish. "It is risky; maybe even perilous, to discuss a Flemish project for the future of Belgium, especially a 'unique' project that would gather votes from all Flemish decision-makers. Nonetheless, when the various points of view expressed in the North of the country are confronted, the outline of a minimal programme can be made out, underlying the action of politicians and business men who are campaigning in favour of a reinforced autonomy of the Flanders region. According to them, this autonomy, through increased emancipation, would give it a bigger role, improve its alleged economic prosperity and, in a way, allow it to fend for itself. ... The fragmentation of Belgium or its reduction to a confederal model, is on the agenda. ... The French-speaking population should be prepared for this. "
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More from the press review on the subject » Minorities, » Social movements, » Belgium, » Europe
Le Soir - Belgium | Thursday, 14. December 2006
Belgian television, RTBF, sent a wave of panic across the country by interrupting a programme, on Wednesday December 13th, to announce that the Flanders region ... » more
Belgian television, RTBF, sent a wave of panic across the country by interrupting a programme, on Wednesday December 13th, to announce that the Flanders region had just proclaimed its independence. It then proposed a special programme on the subject, explaining only a few minutes later that the information was false, a fictional invention aimed at fuelling the debate on the country's partition. Pierre Bouillon is severely critical of the programme which frightened numerous viewers. "The press's status does not permit it to create such a stir with a scenario, albeit 'realistic'. We are being told that the programme was an 'eye opener', helping Belgians to grasp the reality of our institutional debate and its possible consequences. Basically using fiction to show that separatism is not ... 'fiction'. This is an admission of failure. Does informing no longer suffice to inform? Is the debate only possible now at the cost of an artificial electric shock?"
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Le Soir - Belgium | Monday, 18. December 2006
On Saturday, December 16th, the daily published an appeal signed by Béatrice Delvaux and addressed to her colleague Peter Vandermeersch, who the previous day had ... » more
On Saturday, December 16th, the daily published an appeal signed by Béatrice Delvaux and addressed to her colleague Peter Vandermeersch, who the previous day had denounced in the pages of the paper 'De Standaard' a lack of professionalism on the part of French-speaking media concerning communitarian questions. "Let it be known that we too [French-speaking Belgians] sometimes get fed up of clichés; fed up with being described as lazy unemployed who refuse to work; fed up of being presented as parasites on social security, happy to live off the Flemish workers; fed up of hearing that we are intellectually incapable of learning to speak Flemish. The caricature is not helping the debate to progress. It is killing it. So, dear Peter Vandermeersch ..., let us then put our critical minds and our professionalism together at the service of a big investigation of Belgium and its regions that we would publish before the elections." Peter Vandermeersch gave a positive response to the proposition.
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Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Friday, 21. July 2006
Belgium is celebrating the Belgian National Day, but there's little sign of a spirit of national unity, writes correspondent Rene Vautravers. "The monarch has taken ... » more
Belgium is celebrating the Belgian National Day, but there's little sign of a spirit of national unity, writes correspondent Rene Vautravers. "The monarch has taken this day as an opportunity to stress his desire for the unity of the country. It's no secret that the spread of Flemish separatism worries him… The Belgian royal family is without doubt one of the country's few truly national institutions. The king's predecessor, his dead brother Baudouin, was no friend of federalism either. He complained about the speed with which powers were passing from the centralised state to the constituent states. He feared this would weaken the power of the centralised state. Now the centralised state is almost a thing of the past. Flanders, Wallonia and bilingual Brussels now form three relatively independent constituent states, each with their own language community. Even the German-speaking minority has its own parliament."
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Le Soir - Belgium | Friday, 25. August 2006
Luckas Vander Taelen, Belgian journalist and stage-manager, picks up on the controversial remarks made by the Flemish president-minister, Yves Leterme, who declared in a recent interview ... » more
Luckas Vander Taelen, Belgian journalist and stage-manager, picks up on the controversial remarks made by the Flemish president-minister, Yves Leterme, who declared in a recent interview that the Walloons have little in common with Flemishes."So is there no-one in the Flanders region who understands that Francophones find themselves in doubt when the Flemish president-minister doesn't go beyond beer and football when asked what keeps us together in this country? This really doesn't indicate the least interest for culture in our country. But this double identity of which Leterme is, with a Walloon father and a Flemish mother, rather ironically one of the products, no longer interests him (...) Leterme will reap electoral benefits from these tough remarks, but I fear that with this kind of outburst, the Flanders region is increasingly becoming withdrawn into itself."
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Le Soir - Belgium | Wednesday, 5. April 2006
Writer Thomas Gunzig takes an ironic look at a comment made by a Brussels-based Flemish-speaking regional minister. She said: » more
Writer Thomas Gunzig takes an ironic look at a comment made by a Brussels-based Flemish-speaking regional minister. She said: "Better to be an incompetent bilingual Flemish speaker than an ultra-competent monolingual French speaker." "Personally, I'd like to have a good, intelligent prime minister, with some sense of humour, a conscientious commitment to the 'res publica', a humane person but also a technocrat, who understands Belgium and the world, is determined, free of political and electoralist ulterior motives and fears, who is concerned with the common good, social rights, and dreams of progress. People will say, all that's a minimum. ... So, if you find someone like that, and even if he/she speaks only Icelandic, Arameic, or Lingala, that's fine, I'll take that person. Because a good prime minister is such a rare breed, that I'd willingly give him/her subtitles."
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La Libre Belgique - Belgium | Friday, 3. February 2006
"Albert II has been very reckless," writes Karel Rimanque, a professor of constitutional law. He offers his reaction to the speech delivered by the king ... » more
"Albert II has been very reckless," writes Karel Rimanque, a professor of constitutional law. He offers his reaction to the speech delivered by the king on Tuesday, January 31 in which he castigated those who advocate separatism in Belgium. "Was it really necessary to make remonstrations in such plain terms to the authors of the Warande Manifesto [an appeal issued last November calling for Flanders to be independent]? More seriously, did he have to wag an accusatory finger at the entire Flemish political class, whose only fault is to want more autonomy? ... I can understand his concern, but I would gladly refer him back to the speeches of his late brother, who rallied all sides together by underscoring the virtues of solidarity."
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Scotland
La Libre Belgique - Belgium | Friday, 1. June 2007
In an article published by Projet Syndicate, Tom McCabe, Member of the Scottish Parliament and former Finance Minister, pleads in favour of Scottish nationalism. "When people nowadays speak of nationalism, sinister images from another era come to mind. But nationalism is, of course, not inevitably violent: » more
In an article published by Projet Syndicate, Tom McCabe, Member of the Scottish Parliament and former Finance Minister, pleads in favour of Scottish nationalism. "When people nowadays speak of nationalism, sinister images from another era come to mind. But nationalism is, of course, not inevitably violent: it flares into conflict only in places with a flammable legacy. The break-up of the Soviet Union and its satellite empire shows that the way to address such a legacy is not to force unhappy peoples to live together in one country. ... Moreover, unlike East European or Balkan nationalism, the Scottish variety has little to do with ethnicity or religion. ... What is arising is a different Scotland, and a different Britain, and this is Scotland's lesson for Europe. Britain's highly centralized political culture has been irreversibly changed. It is being replaced by a more diverse sort of politics, in which different regional and national identities gain encouragement and expression."
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Open Democracy - United Kingdom | Saturday, 30. December 2006
On November 30th, Scotlands's national St Andrew's day, three Scottish authors, Alasdair Gray, Christopher Harvie and Jimmy Reid, signed a defence of Scottish Independence published ... » more
On November 30th, Scotlands's national St Andrew's day, three Scottish authors, Alasdair Gray, Christopher Harvie and Jimmy Reid, signed a defence of Scottish Independence published in the online magazine. "New Labour has sold itself to private business at every level, cutting deals with individual, corporate and multinational wealth as enthusiastically as the John Major and Margaret Thatcher governments it replaced, promising only (but failing) to rule us more honestly. We want instead a land whose government encourages local businesses of different kinds, and enterprises whose goals are not just profits, but support for innovation and cooperation. New Labour's economics are fraudulent - an indiscriminate growth of gambling, retailing and fast food, financed by borrowing, arms-dealing and social inequalities, with the bill yet to come in. We need independence to start sorting our country and making it a nation with a voice in world affairs."
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Die Presse - Austria | Monday, 30. April 2007
Irene Zöch looks sceptically at Scotland's parliamentary elections taking place on May 3, which the nationalist Alex Salmond is predicted to win: » more
Irene Zöch looks sceptically at Scotland's parliamentary elections taking place on May 3, which the nationalist Alex Salmond is predicted to win: "The separation from England may be opportune and serve to capture the odd vote, but is the creation of mini-states at all in keeping with the times, let alone sensible, in a Europe that is increasingly growing together?" she asks. "Salmond is no raving nationalist trying to mobilise voters with strong slogans. He's a composed separatist, who approaches his goal with the sober determination of a hard businessman rather than taking to the beer-soaked atmosphere of Scottish pubs. Independence is not to be immediate. The people are to be asked their opinion in a referendum held towards the end of the legislative period. By this time, Salmond hopes to have proved he can govern and catapult Scotland forward without juicy cash injections from far-away London, according to the principle of the Scandinavian welfare state and the motto: We in the north can be better off financially without the English millstone around our necks."
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Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Tuesday, 24. April 2007
May 1st 2007 will be the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland. Two days later, regional parliamentary elections will be held in Scotland. The Scottish National Party (SNP) is said to have good chances of winning a majority. George Waser reports: » more
May 1st 2007 will be the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland. Two days later, regional parliamentary elections will be held in Scotland. The Scottish National Party (SNP) is said to have good chances of winning a majority. George Waser reports: "Alex Salmond, who would be the First Minister in the case of an SNP victory, is already giving himself the airs of an elder statesman. 'Going it alone' is the motto of those who want a break with the Union and dream of a boom similar to that in Ireland. But how realistic is this dream of 'going it alone'?... No doubt the SNP (which having enhanced its strategic skills is now rooting for a referendum in three years' time instead of immediately) would plead in favour of abandoning the union with England, pointing to the oil and gas reserves in the North Sea. But notwithstanding a report which was long kept secret by the British government, according to which the Scottish were always at a disadvantage, it's still uncertain to what extent complete autonomy would give them the rights to these reserves."
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The Irish Times - Ireland | Wednesday, 17. January 2007
"The celebration yesterday of the 300th anniversary of the Scottish passing of the Act of Union was distinctly muted", notes the Irish daily, considering Scottish ... » more
"The celebration yesterday of the 300th anniversary of the Scottish passing of the Act of Union was distinctly muted", notes the Irish daily, considering Scottish independence and the limitations of devolved governmentment. "The West Lothian question - the incongruity in having Scottish MPs in Westminster voting on English issues when their counterparts are denied the same right on issues devolved to Scotland - has acquired a salience in British politics that is seriously embarrassing Labour. Gordon Brown has a particular problem as the first putative Scottish prime minister since Harold Macmillan. On Sunday he warned of a "balkanised Britain" fractured by the twin forces of nationalism and multiculturalism. Such hyperbole, conjuring up visions of sectarian war, do little for the case for the union. Nor indeed do Labour's prophets of economic doom - the EU has demonstrated that still smaller states can prosper happily within its ambit, yet preserving the key elements of sovereignty."
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The Daily Telegraph - United Kingdom | Tuesday, 2. January 2007
"Three hundred years ago this month, the Scottish Parliament passed the Act of Union by 110 votes to 67, creating perhaps the greatest and most ... » more
"Three hundred years ago this month, the Scottish Parliament passed the Act of Union by 110 votes to 67, creating perhaps the greatest and most successful nation the world has known. Yet our commemoration is confined to the minting of a £2 coin and a couple of exhibitions", comments the daily. "This reticence is easily enough explained. Support for the SNP [Scottish National Party] is rising, and most Scots now say they favour independence. ... Today, the Union ensures Britain's place among the powers, as the world's fifth economy and fourth military force. Yes, there are problems with the current devolution settlement, but these can be stitched up under local anaesthetic without major surgery. ... There is no need to break a Union which, in lifting its constituent peoples out of parochialism, renders them a force for freedom and justice in the world."
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Regionalism in Europe
Libération - France | Thursday, 29. December 2005
"It is yet to fully come to terms with enlargement, but already another specter is stalking Europe: » more
"It is yet to fully come to terms with enlargement, but already another specter is stalking Europe: regrouping," writes Jean-Michel Helvig. "We see Catalonia demanding distinct-nation status from the Spanish, the first step toward the establishment of a state which, down the road, could in turn claim member-state status. And why not Padania, Bavaria, Scotland and Flanders? While this national-regionalism has become more radicalised since the enlargement of the 90's, it is already rooted in the way the community functions. The regions that strive for autonomy use thesupra-national aspect of Europe to circumvent their governments, thereby gaining a hearing for their own interests - particularly economic ones... This movement that seeks to regroup member states is, first and foremost, an expression of the selfishness of rich people who do not want to 'pay' for Polish plumbers, Slovenian lumberjacks or Calabrian bricklayers."
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Mladá fronta Dnes - Czech Republic | Tuesday, 11. July 2006
Michal Mocek maintains that it's not just in the east and the Balkans that Europe is "becoming frayed". "There are many more places where it ... » more
Michal Mocek maintains that it's not just in the east and the Balkans that Europe is "becoming frayed". "There are many more places where it has worn thin. The whole of Western Europe is peppered with such places. Calls for more autonomy or complete independence are becoming more vocal in Galicia, Catalonia, the Basque country, Brittany, Flanders, Sicily, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are nationalist groups all over Europe. While in the east states are splitting up, in the west individual states are also witnessing sometimes unexpected changes. In London the question of whether Scottish and Welsh MPs should be allowed to vote on issues which affect England alone is currently the subject of heated debate. If England gets its own parliament, a very different Great Britain would emerge… It's mainly thanks to the EU, which provides the scope for greater autonomy, that Western Europe is not breaking up like into smaller pieces like Eastern Europe. The advantages of a single market remain, regardless of the size of the individual states."
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euro|topics-Dossiers zu Separatismus in Europa
Main focus of Friday, 2. March 2007
Several countries in the EU are confronted with separatist demands from communities or regions aspiring to a greater autonomy, or even complete independence. » more
Several countries in the EU are confronted with separatist demands from communities or regions aspiring to a greater autonomy, or even complete independence.
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Main focus of Tuesday, 20. June 2006
On Sunday, June 18, 73.8 percent of Catalan voters approved a plan that grants them increased autonomy within the Spanish state. The Spanish Prime minister, ... » more
On Sunday, June 18, 73.8 percent of Catalan voters approved a plan that grants them increased autonomy within the Spanish state. The Spanish Prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who is in the process of negotiating similar arrangements with several other regions, is putting Spain on a course toward greater devolution.
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Main focus of Monday, 11. June 2007
The legislative elections held in Belgium on Sunday, June 10th, saw the clear victory of the Christian-democrats who, after eight years in the opposition, have ... » more
The legislative elections held in Belgium on Sunday, June 10th, saw the clear victory of the Christian-democrats who, after eight years in the opposition, have high hopes of leading the next government coalition. The negotiations that have just begun could well lead to Yves Leterme, leader of the Flemish Christian-democrats, being named the next Belgian Prime Minister.
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Main focus of Thursday, 3. May 2007
Regional and local elections are being held this Thursday, May 3rd in Great Britain. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), in favour of Scottish ... » more
Regional and local elections are being held this Thursday, May 3rd in Great Britain. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), in favour of Scottish independence, are leading in polls and could become the dominant force in the local Parliament. What might the consequences of such a victory be for the United Kingdom and Europe ?
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Spanien
La Vanguardia - Spain | Friday, 31. March 2006
The journalist Antoni Puigverd comments on the decision by the Spanish parliament on Thursday, March 30 to grant broader autonomy to Catalonia. He believes the ... » more
The journalist Antoni Puigverd comments on the decision by the Spanish parliament on Thursday, March 30 to grant broader autonomy to Catalonia. He believes the proposal, which must be submitted to a referendum in June in Catalonia, represents "a meeting point" between the different positions. "Nobody, honestly, can say that Spain is breaking up, even if some people logically fear that the current course may result in the country's eventual fracture. Nobody can say that Spain is not responding to Catalan aspirations, even if the current course entails an end to the dream of sovereignty. When a suitable solution to a complex problem is found, one can only applaud. It might not please everyone, but credit is due to the politicians who, rather than razing the house, find a way to restore it."
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ABC - Spain | Friday, 10. February 2006
"The agreement reached yesterday in the Congress of Deputies between members of the Popular Party and the socialists on approving the statute of the autonomous community ... » more
"The agreement reached yesterday in the Congress of Deputies between members of the Popular Party and the socialists on approving the statute of the autonomous community of Valencia is good news in light of the territorial system currently in force. Common sense and a determination to negotiate prevailed in the end over opportunistic interests," the daily writes. "Consensus between two major parties on the national stage should be the rule, and not the exception, when it comes to the territorial architecture of the State. There is no doubt that the model currently in place opens a path to self-government for nationalities and regions that integrate into the Spanish nation. ... A simple comparison with the Catalan project demonstrates that the statute of Valencia is a model for updating and improving the existing system."
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - Germany | Wednesday, 18. January 2006
The whole of Spain is preoccupied with the question of "whether the region of Catalonia will one day be allowed to call itself a 'nation' ... » more
The whole of Spain is preoccupied with the question of "whether the region of Catalonia will one day be allowed to call itself a 'nation' and make its division from the rest of Spain slightly more visible," Paul Ingendaay reports. He goes on to describe the grotesque impact attempts to achieve autonomy have on everyday life in Barcelona. "The language police have indeed stepped up their activities and are subjecting the populace of Catalonia to intense surveillance. In 2004, four times as many businesses, bars and restaurants as in 2003 were fined for failing to offer their services and wares in Catalan as well as Spanish. How about a little foreign flair, like in New York or Berlin? Well, not in Barcelona. Here, customers are entitled to complain if the staff doesn't speak Catalan when serving them. This means that people who speak Spanish only have a hard time finding jobs in Barcelona, despite the fact that Catalonia is part of Spain."
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El Periódico de Catalunya - Spain | Monday, 19. June 2006
The local daily argues that the June 18 referendum on a new autonomy plan for Catalonia marks a failure for politicians. For while 73.8 percent ... » more
The local daily argues that the June 18 referendum on a new autonomy plan for Catalonia marks a failure for politicians. For while 73.8 percent of the population voted 'Yes', only half of all Catalonian voters turned up at the polls. "The abstention of half of all Catalonians should be food for thought for the political parties who failed to mobilise the people despite the importance of the consultation. ... This shows just how removed ordinary people feel from politicians. The man in the street is more concerned about issues pertaining to his daily existence than about obscure nationalist concepts. ... Now the approved plan must be implemented and prove, through concrete deeds, that the new autonomy status is capable of responding to real needs. It is perhaps in this way that a relationship of trust between politicians and a sizeable part of our society might be reestablished."
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ABC - Spain | Thursday, 8. March 2007
The chronicler Valentí Puig bemoans the fact that Spain is turning away from European news because of its own problems, such as that of ... » more
The chronicler Valentí Puig bemoans the fact that Spain is turning away from European news because of its own problems, such as that of Basque separatism. "Even the passionate pro-European fervour, a touch outlandish, apparent over these past few years, has not survived the head-spinning terrorist threat. And yet now is the time to discuss Spain's place in the EU and the role it can play. ... It is unequivocally unhealthy and counter-productive for Spain not to be involved in discussing subjects. (...) Overwhelmed by pressing topics of current affairs, politicians are advancing at a snail's pace on the European field. Meanwhile total ignorance is rife in intellectual and cultural circles concerning European reality, apart from among specialists on the subject. Some people can even be heard confusing euroscepticism with a lack of interest in the EU. We should on the contrary be giving thanks to technocratic governments of the 50s and 60s, for having opened the way toward the European community."
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Main focus of Thursday, 3. May 2007
Regional and local elections are being held this Thursday, May 3rd in Great Britain. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), in favour of Scottish ... » more
Regional and local elections are being held this Thursday, May 3rd in Great Britain. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), in favour of Scottish independence, are leading in polls and could become the dominant force in the local Parliament. What might the consequences of such a victory be for the United Kingdom and Europe ?
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El País - Spain | Wednesday, 1. February 2006
Andrés de Blas Guerrero, a law professor at Spain's National University of Distance Education, analyses the way in which Spain's various nationalities attempt to live ... » more
Andrés de Blas Guerrero, a law professor at Spain's National University of Distance Education, analyses the way in which Spain's various nationalities attempt to live together. "Understanding and cooperation must prevail in the relationship between the different nationalities of Spain, because this is what the overwhelming majority of the population desires. An understanding and cooperation of a kind that was lacking during the genesis of the plan to reform Catalonia's status. Now, Catalonia knows the degree to which its political affirmation depends on the help and consent of the rest of Spain - in the same way that the State and the nation need to ensure that the various national groups are integrated and satisfied. Perhaps the time has come for everyone to adhere to a new blueprint for discussion based on trust, understanding, and even sympathy."
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ABC - Spain | Thursday, 13. July 2006
The conservative daily, a staunch defender of Spain's unity, thinks it is deplorable that Catalonia has requested a separate space from that of Spain to ... » more
The conservative daily, a staunch defender of Spain's unity, thinks it is deplorable that Catalonia has requested a separate space from that of Spain to present its literature at the Frankfurt Book Fair [from October 4 to 8, 2006]. "This is totally absurd, since so many works from Catalonia are published in Spanish and not just in catalan. ... Languages are an instrument of social cohesion and must not become tools for discriminating against citizens, or serve the purposes of political revenge. Certain nationalist ideologies claim to reject spanish in the name of a conception that gives precedence to supposed collective rights over individual ones. It is regrettable that at a moment when the global influence of spanish is growing, some minority groups are attempting to eradicate it within Spain itself."
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El Mundo - Spain | Monday, 9. October 2006
The daily reacts in an editorial to the football encounter in Barcelona on Sunday, October 8th, with the confrontation of Catalonia and the Basque Country. ... » more
The daily reacts in an editorial to the football encounter in Barcelona on Sunday, October 8th, with the confrontation of Catalonia and the Basque Country. "Presented by the respective independent television channels as a match 'between nations', this encounter allowed the display of all the symbolism of independent movements, from flags to 'national' anthems... .The political importance of this match is incontrovertible. ... It embodies the continuous policy of concession practised by Zapatero [the head of the Spanish government] who requests 'time' before it is possible to observe its fruit. The problem is that even the most optimistic and the most confident people recognise every day that the process is irreversible. Separatism is winning ground both on the football field and on the street."
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Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany | Wednesday, 9. May 2007
This autumn, the Frankfurt Book Fair will feature a "guest region" instead of a "guest country": » more
This autumn, the Frankfurt Book Fair will feature a "guest region" instead of a "guest country": Catalonia. Ijoma Mangold reports that this has sparked an outright "cultural war" in Spain: "It's all about identity politics, the instrumentalisation of literature for national interests – because Catalonia defines itself as a nation according to the latest autonomy statue. Its appearance at the book fair will not be easy. Because almost all Catalan authors who are internationally recognized write in Spanish… But the Ramon Llull Catalan Cultural Institute, which is organizing the 'guest region' appearance on behalf of the government, only wanted to invite those Catalan writers who actually write in Catalan… Now, the Ramon Llull Institute wants to bring 70 (heavily subsidized) authors to Frankfurt. In Spain, they are laughing at this number, and not without malice: Where will they find so many writers?"
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Belgien
Le Soir - Belgium | Wednesday, 18. July 2007
Yves Leterme, head of the Flemish Christian Democratic Pary (CDV), won the elections held June 10th, appears to be set to run the next Belgian ... » more
Yves Leterme, head of the Flemish Christian Democratic Pary (CDV), won the elections held June 10th, appears to be set to run the next Belgian government. His campaign promises to give more power to the regions worries Bénédicte Vaes. "Don't say that [Flanders, where Leterme is prime minister] wants to split or regionalise. Say that it wants to make us more res-pon-sible. A positive word, very politically correct. A word which is not suspected of being able to break down solidarity. If they accept to be financially responsible, the Wallons and the Brusselois will have to be as effective as the Flemish. If not, it will cost them. Their social security will fall. ... The Flemish have always held the reigns in regional negotiations. Every time they [the Wallons and Brusselois] get ripped-off."
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El País - Spain | Thursday, 14. June 2007
Yves Leterme, leader of the Flemish Christian-Democrat Party, is the candidate running for the post of Prime Minister after the legislative elections in Belgium. He is advocating greater autonomy for Belgian regions (Brussels, the Flemish region and the French-speaking region). The Spanish daily assesses this. "The message is clear: » more
Yves Leterme, leader of the Flemish Christian-Democrat Party, is the candidate running for the post of Prime Minister after the legislative elections in Belgium. He is advocating greater autonomy for Belgian regions (Brussels, the Flemish region and the French-speaking region). The Spanish daily assesses this. "The message is clear: the Flemish want to keep a distance, and even be separated from the French-speakers. Leterme ... has exploited desire, widespread among the Flemish, to reduce the financial transfer of Flemish riches to the poor French-speaking regions... . Now, with 18.5% of the votes and 30 seats out of 150 in Parliament, Leterme is obliged to find allies. ... He will have to seduce parties representing French-speaking Walloons and modify his propositions without giving up the 'State reform' that he has promised. ... As a minimally realistic measure necessary to conquer power, Leterme is presenting the idea of a 'Belgium built on an historical compromise' between the Frech-speaking community and the Flemish, something that appears more and more difficult everyday."
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Le Soir - Belgium | Monday, 26. February 2007
This week , the daily published extracts of a 'Manifesto for French-speaking unity' developed by two former members of Belgian Parliament, Serge Moureaux and Antoinette ... » more
This week , the daily published extracts of a 'Manifesto for French-speaking unity' developed by two former members of Belgian Parliament, Serge Moureaux and Antoinette Spaak, who warn against the separatist desires of the Flemish. "It is risky; maybe even perilous, to discuss a Flemish project for the future of Belgium, especially a 'unique' project that would gather votes from all Flemish decision-makers. Nonetheless, when the various points of view expressed in the North of the country are confronted, the outline of a minimal programme can be made out, underlying the action of politicians and business men who are campaigning in favour of a reinforced autonomy of the Flanders region. According to them, this autonomy, through increased emancipation, would give it a bigger role, improve its alleged economic prosperity and, in a way, allow it to fend for itself. ... The fragmentation of Belgium or its reduction to a confederal model, is on the agenda. ... The French-speaking population should be prepared for this. "
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Le Soir - Belgium | Thursday, 14. December 2006
Belgian television, RTBF, sent a wave of panic across the country by interrupting a programme, on Wednesday December 13th, to announce that the Flanders region ... » more
Belgian television, RTBF, sent a wave of panic across the country by interrupting a programme, on Wednesday December 13th, to announce that the Flanders region had just proclaimed its independence. It then proposed a special programme on the subject, explaining only a few minutes later that the information was false, a fictional invention aimed at fuelling the debate on the country's partition. Pierre Bouillon is severely critical of the programme which frightened numerous viewers. "The press's status does not permit it to create such a stir with a scenario, albeit 'realistic'. We are being told that the programme was an 'eye opener', helping Belgians to grasp the reality of our institutional debate and its possible consequences. Basically using fiction to show that separatism is not ... 'fiction'. This is an admission of failure. Does informing no longer suffice to inform? Is the debate only possible now at the cost of an artificial electric shock?"
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Le Soir - Belgium | Monday, 18. December 2006
On Saturday, December 16th, the daily published an appeal signed by Béatrice Delvaux and addressed to her colleague Peter Vandermeersch, who the previous day had ... » more
On Saturday, December 16th, the daily published an appeal signed by Béatrice Delvaux and addressed to her colleague Peter Vandermeersch, who the previous day had denounced in the pages of the paper 'De Standaard' a lack of professionalism on the part of French-speaking media concerning communitarian questions. "Let it be known that we too [French-speaking Belgians] sometimes get fed up of clichés; fed up with being described as lazy unemployed who refuse to work; fed up of being presented as parasites on social security, happy to live off the Flemish workers; fed up of hearing that we are intellectually incapable of learning to speak Flemish. The caricature is not helping the debate to progress. It is killing it. So, dear Peter Vandermeersch ..., let us then put our critical minds and our professionalism together at the service of a big investigation of Belgium and its regions that we would publish before the elections." Peter Vandermeersch gave a positive response to the proposition.
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Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Friday, 21. July 2006
Belgium is celebrating the Belgian National Day, but there's little sign of a spirit of national unity, writes correspondent Rene Vautravers. "The monarch has taken ... » more
Belgium is celebrating the Belgian National Day, but there's little sign of a spirit of national unity, writes correspondent Rene Vautravers. "The monarch has taken this day as an opportunity to stress his desire for the unity of the country. It's no secret that the spread of Flemish separatism worries him… The Belgian royal family is without doubt one of the country's few truly national institutions. The king's predecessor, his dead brother Baudouin, was no friend of federalism either. He complained about the speed with which powers were passing from the centralised state to the constituent states. He feared this would weaken the power of the centralised state. Now the centralised state is almost a thing of the past. Flanders, Wallonia and bilingual Brussels now form three relatively independent constituent states, each with their own language community. Even the German-speaking minority has its own parliament."
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Le Soir - Belgium | Friday, 25. August 2006
Luckas Vander Taelen, Belgian journalist and stage-manager, picks up on the controversial remarks made by the Flemish president-minister, Yves Leterme, who declared in a recent interview ... » more
Luckas Vander Taelen, Belgian journalist and stage-manager, picks up on the controversial remarks made by the Flemish president-minister, Yves Leterme, who declared in a recent interview that the Walloons have little in common with Flemishes."So is there no-one in the Flanders region who understands that Francophones find themselves in doubt when the Flemish president-minister doesn't go beyond beer and football when asked what keeps us together in this country? This really doesn't indicate the least interest for culture in our country. But this double identity of which Leterme is, with a Walloon father and a Flemish mother, rather ironically one of the products, no longer interests him (...) Leterme will reap electoral benefits from these tough remarks, but I fear that with this kind of outburst, the Flanders region is increasingly becoming withdrawn into itself."
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Le Soir - Belgium | Wednesday, 5. April 2006
Writer Thomas Gunzig takes an ironic look at a comment made by a Brussels-based Flemish-speaking regional minister. She said: » more
Writer Thomas Gunzig takes an ironic look at a comment made by a Brussels-based Flemish-speaking regional minister. She said: "Better to be an incompetent bilingual Flemish speaker than an ultra-competent monolingual French speaker." "Personally, I'd like to have a good, intelligent prime minister, with some sense of humour, a conscientious commitment to the 'res publica', a humane person but also a technocrat, who understands Belgium and the world, is determined, free of political and electoralist ulterior motives and fears, who is concerned with the common good, social rights, and dreams of progress. People will say, all that's a minimum. ... So, if you find someone like that, and even if he/she speaks only Icelandic, Arameic, or Lingala, that's fine, I'll take that person. Because a good prime minister is such a rare breed, that I'd willingly give him/her subtitles."
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La Libre Belgique - Belgium | Friday, 3. February 2006
"Albert II has been very reckless," writes Karel Rimanque, a professor of constitutional law. He offers his reaction to the speech delivered by the king ... » more
"Albert II has been very reckless," writes Karel Rimanque, a professor of constitutional law. He offers his reaction to the speech delivered by the king on Tuesday, January 31 in which he castigated those who advocate separatism in Belgium. "Was it really necessary to make remonstrations in such plain terms to the authors of the Warande Manifesto [an appeal issued last November calling for Flanders to be independent]? More seriously, did he have to wag an accusatory finger at the entire Flemish political class, whose only fault is to want more autonomy? ... I can understand his concern, but I would gladly refer him back to the speeches of his late brother, who rallied all sides together by underscoring the virtues of solidarity."
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Schottland
La Libre Belgique - Belgium | Friday, 1. June 2007
In an article published by Projet Syndicate, Tom McCabe, Member of the Scottish Parliament and former Finance Minister, pleads in favour of Scottish nationalism. "When people nowadays speak of nationalism, sinister images from another era come to mind. But nationalism is, of course, not inevitably violent: » more
In an article published by Projet Syndicate, Tom McCabe, Member of the Scottish Parliament and former Finance Minister, pleads in favour of Scottish nationalism. "When people nowadays speak of nationalism, sinister images from another era come to mind. But nationalism is, of course, not inevitably violent: it flares into conflict only in places with a flammable legacy. The break-up of the Soviet Union and its satellite empire shows that the way to address such a legacy is not to force unhappy peoples to live together in one country. ... Moreover, unlike East European or Balkan nationalism, the Scottish variety has little to do with ethnicity or religion. ... What is arising is a different Scotland, and a different Britain, and this is Scotland's lesson for Europe. Britain's highly centralized political culture has been irreversibly changed. It is being replaced by a more diverse sort of politics, in which different regional and national identities gain encouragement and expression."
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Open Democracy - United Kingdom | Saturday, 30. December 2006
On November 30th, Scotlands's national St Andrew's day, three Scottish authors, Alasdair Gray, Christopher Harvie and Jimmy Reid, signed a defence of Scottish Independence published ... » more
On November 30th, Scotlands's national St Andrew's day, three Scottish authors, Alasdair Gray, Christopher Harvie and Jimmy Reid, signed a defence of Scottish Independence published in the online magazine. "New Labour has sold itself to private business at every level, cutting deals with individual, corporate and multinational wealth as enthusiastically as the John Major and Margaret Thatcher governments it replaced, promising only (but failing) to rule us more honestly. We want instead a land whose government encourages local businesses of different kinds, and enterprises whose goals are not just profits, but support for innovation and cooperation. New Labour's economics are fraudulent - an indiscriminate growth of gambling, retailing and fast food, financed by borrowing, arms-dealing and social inequalities, with the bill yet to come in. We need independence to start sorting our country and making it a nation with a voice in world affairs."
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Die Presse - Austria | Monday, 30. April 2007
Irene Zöch looks sceptically at Scotland's parliamentary elections taking place on May 3, which the nationalist Alex Salmond is predicted to win: » more
Irene Zöch looks sceptically at Scotland's parliamentary elections taking place on May 3, which the nationalist Alex Salmond is predicted to win: "The separation from England may be opportune and serve to capture the odd vote, but is the creation of mini-states at all in keeping with the times, let alone sensible, in a Europe that is increasingly growing together?" she asks. "Salmond is no raving nationalist trying to mobilise voters with strong slogans. He's a composed separatist, who approaches his goal with the sober determination of a hard businessman rather than taking to the beer-soaked atmosphere of Scottish pubs. Independence is not to be immediate. The people are to be asked their opinion in a referendum held towards the end of the legislative period. By this time, Salmond hopes to have proved he can govern and catapult Scotland forward without juicy cash injections from far-away London, according to the principle of the Scandinavian welfare state and the motto: We in the north can be better off financially without the English millstone around our necks."
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Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Tuesday, 24. April 2007
May 1st 2007 will be the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland. Two days later, regional parliamentary elections will be held in Scotland. The Scottish National Party (SNP) is said to have good chances of winning a majority. George Waser reports: » more
May 1st 2007 will be the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland. Two days later, regional parliamentary elections will be held in Scotland. The Scottish National Party (SNP) is said to have good chances of winning a majority. George Waser reports: "Alex Salmond, who would be the First Minister in the case of an SNP victory, is already giving himself the airs of an elder statesman. 'Going it alone' is the motto of those who want a break with the Union and dream of a boom similar to that in Ireland. But how realistic is this dream of 'going it alone'?... No doubt the SNP (which having enhanced its strategic skills is now rooting for a referendum in three years' time instead of immediately) would plead in favour of abandoning the union with England, pointing to the oil and gas reserves in the North Sea. But notwithstanding a report which was long kept secret by the British government, according to which the Scottish were always at a disadvantage, it's still uncertain to what extent complete autonomy would give them the rights to these reserves."
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The Irish Times - Ireland | Wednesday, 17. January 2007
"The celebration yesterday of the 300th anniversary of the Scottish passing of the Act of Union was distinctly muted", notes the Irish daily, considering Scottish ... » more
"The celebration yesterday of the 300th anniversary of the Scottish passing of the Act of Union was distinctly muted", notes the Irish daily, considering Scottish independence and the limitations of devolved governmentment. "The West Lothian question - the incongruity in having Scottish MPs in Westminster voting on English issues when their counterparts are denied the same right on issues devolved to Scotland - has acquired a salience in British politics that is seriously embarrassing Labour. Gordon Brown has a particular problem as the first putative Scottish prime minister since Harold Macmillan. On Sunday he warned of a "balkanised Britain" fractured by the twin forces of nationalism and multiculturalism. Such hyperbole, conjuring up visions of sectarian war, do little for the case for the union. Nor indeed do Labour's prophets of economic doom - the EU has demonstrated that still smaller states can prosper happily within its ambit, yet preserving the key elements of sovereignty."
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The Daily Telegraph - United Kingdom | Tuesday, 2. January 2007
"Three hundred years ago this month, the Scottish Parliament passed the Act of Union by 110 votes to 67, creating perhaps the greatest and most ... » more
"Three hundred years ago this month, the Scottish Parliament passed the Act of Union by 110 votes to 67, creating perhaps the greatest and most successful nation the world has known. Yet our commemoration is confined to the minting of a £2 coin and a couple of exhibitions", comments the daily. "This reticence is easily enough explained. Support for the SNP [Scottish National Party] is rising, and most Scots now say they favour independence. ... Today, the Union ensures Britain's place among the powers, as the world's fifth economy and fourth military force. Yes, there are problems with the current devolution settlement, but these can be stitched up under local anaesthetic without major surgery. ... There is no need to break a Union which, in lifting its constituent peoples out of parochialism, renders them a force for freedom and justice in the world."
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Regionalismus Europa
Libération - France | Thursday, 29. December 2005
"It is yet to fully come to terms with enlargement, but already another specter is stalking Europe: » more
"It is yet to fully come to terms with enlargement, but already another specter is stalking Europe: regrouping," writes Jean-Michel Helvig. "We see Catalonia demanding distinct-nation status from the Spanish, the first step toward the establishment of a state which, down the road, could in turn claim member-state status. And why not Padania, Bavaria, Scotland and Flanders? While this national-regionalism has become more radicalised since the enlargement of the 90's, it is already rooted in the way the community functions. The regions that strive for autonomy use thesupra-national aspect of Europe to circumvent their governments, thereby gaining a hearing for their own interests - particularly economic ones... This movement that seeks to regroup member states is, first and foremost, an expression of the selfishness of rich people who do not want to 'pay' for Polish plumbers, Slovenian lumberjacks or Calabrian bricklayers."
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Mladá fronta Dnes - Czech Republic | Tuesday, 11. July 2006
Michal Mocek maintains that it's not just in the east and the Balkans that Europe is "becoming frayed". "There are many more places where it ... » more
Michal Mocek maintains that it's not just in the east and the Balkans that Europe is "becoming frayed". "There are many more places where it has worn thin. The whole of Western Europe is peppered with such places. Calls for more autonomy or complete independence are becoming more vocal in Galicia, Catalonia, the Basque country, Brittany, Flanders, Sicily, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are nationalist groups all over Europe. While in the east states are splitting up, in the west individual states are also witnessing sometimes unexpected changes. In London the question of whether Scottish and Welsh MPs should be allowed to vote on issues which affect England alone is currently the subject of heated debate. If England gets its own parliament, a very different Great Britain would emerge… It's mainly thanks to the EU, which provides the scope for greater autonomy, that Western Europe is not breaking up like into smaller pieces like Eastern Europe. The advantages of a single market remain, regardless of the size of the individual states."
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Further articles on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Minorities, » United Kingdom, » Spain, » Belgium, » Europe
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