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Urgent action by the EU required in Catalonia
Alfred de Zayas
Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Former Secretary of the UN Human Rights Committee
Spain’s violation of Article 1 of the UN Charter and Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) concerning the self-determination of peoples is aggravated by the arrest of political, social and cultural leaders, their physical abuse, persecution and prosecution by virtue of the criminalization of the exercise of freedom of expression, assembly and association, as well as by the instrumentalization of the judicial apparatus for intimidation and repression, the denial the democratic right to participate in the conduct of public affairs, the right to vote in a referendum, and the right to be elected and represent constituents in the European Parliament (articles 7, 9, 10, 14, 19, 21, 22 , 25, 26 and 27 ICCPR). Pursuant to articles 10(2) and 96 of the Spanish Constitution, these international human rights are part of the Spanish legal order.
The Council has invoked Article 7 with respect to Poland and Hungary, where the situation is less serious
This situation breaches Article 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which stipulates that “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.” Bearing in mind that Spain has ignored the reports of the Catalonian syndic (ombudsman), the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the UN Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression, Assembly, Independence of Judges and Lawyers, the European Council must now, pursuant to Article 7 of the Treaty of Lisbon, determine not only that “there is a clear risk of a serious breach … of the values referred to in Article 2”, but that the breach has occurred. The Council has invoked Article 7 with respect to Poland and Hungary, where the situation is less serious.
In my report to the GA (A/69/272) and to the UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/37/63) I formulate 23 Principles of International Order, including the right of self-determination and elucidate the criteria for its exercise. Catalonians are a “people” and satisfy the criteria laid down in the reports. The argument by Spain that self-determination was achieved through decolonization is disproven by international practice, bearing in mind the progressive development of international law, including the 2010 Kosovo Advisory Opinion of the ICJ, which prioritizes the right of self-determination of peoples over the principle of territorial integrity of States.
The argument by Spain that self-determination was achieved through decolonization is disproven by international practice
Catalonians are European citizens and have a right to protection by the European Commission. The EU’s credibility is at stake.
Read the full version of the article here.
Catalan crisis is not about independence. It’s about democracy and human rights
Trial against the civil and political leaders of Catalonia over the referendum of 2017 was a politicized trial marked with irregularities. The inhumane and unjustified pre-trial detention of the nine political prisoners was denounced by Amnesty, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention as well as other human rights organizations.
Spain is the only country in the European Union with political prisoners
Objectively the Catalan leaders could have only been sentenced for the crime of disobedience like president Artur Mas was over the 2014 referendum. There was no rebellion nor sedition. International courts have also confirmed this in ruling over the extradition of president Carles Puigdemont and his ministers for example in Belgium and in Germany.
Behavior of the Spanish police back in 2017 and once again over the recent weeks has not been right. Police violence has been condemned also by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.
The repeated refusal by the Spanish authorities to even sit down and talk about the political conflict in Catalonia over the years has been irresponsible. When over two million people want independence and up to 80 % of the Catalan people want a binding negotiated independence referendum, it is clear that this reality needs to be grasped through political negotiations in stead of repression.
Spain is the only country in the European Union with political prisoners. It’s treatment of Catalonia over the years is not right. Democracy and human rights have not been respected. It is time for the international community to react and force Spain into the negotiating table. Catalan government is already there willing to engage in dialogue.
It is time for the international community to react and force Spain into the negotiating table
A drastic measure but one which surely would have effect is to use the Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union and sanction Spain similarly what has debated over the situation in countries such as Poland and Hungary. This will not likely happen, but it is what is needed otherwise the situation on the ground in Catalonia is going to escalate and Spain – and Europe with it – will plummet deeper into a crisis.
AGAINST
The European Union intervention in the Catalonia conflict is a mistake
Politics without fair principles and moral values is a hard power struggle. But obviously, politics also involves interests. National self-determination is one of the most complex issues in international politics as it has no clear formulation of legal-political rules or principles.
Those who claim for the right of self-determination may either be given credit for their appeal or turned down in a similar situation. Not only that but a strong emotion eventually helps hinder the progress of any balanced discussion. The 2017 referendum in Catalonia, hold under police repression for breaching the Spanish law, clearly showed that.
This is an internal issue of the Spanish State, not a competence of the European Union
Next, the heavy judgments issued by Spain’s Supreme Court on more than a dozen pro-independence politicians have originated mass protests. In free, democratic societies, it should be clearly legitimate to question the court’s judgements, and the type of crimes established by Spanish law on which the conviction was based. However, despite understandable international sympathies, it should be noted that this is an internal issue of the Spanish State, not a competence of the European Union.
At the legal level, the Treaty on European Union, Article 4 (2), clearly states the Union “shall respect their essential State functions, including ensuring the territorial integrity of the State, maintaining law and order and safeguarding national security.” Therefore, any non-requested or consented intervention by the Union may be looked as an interference in internal affairs and a violation of the European Union law.
In addition to the legal problem — and despite any moral considerations —, it would also be a political mistake: it could cause deep divisions among Member-States, mainly those with potential independence claims. Worse still, it would set a precedent that could be used by many others, both within and outside the European Union.
As Catalonia is not a unique case – the Basque Country (also in Spain), Scotland (UK) and others have similar claims of self-determination –, the intervention of the European Union would open a kind of “Pandora’s Box”: it would spread the idea that the Union protects or supports separatist movements against Member-States. The risk is not theoretical.
The intervention of the European Union would open a kind of “Pandora’s Box”
Spanish nationalism, already visible in the Vox party, grows with Catalan nationalism, and gains momentum from the real or imagined threats to the unity of Spain. So, despite good intentions, it is up to the European Union to stop nationalisms, not to get involved in the Catalan conflicts or to push them even further.
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Despite all our efforts, we did not find a second legitimate and competent person willing to defend this point of view.
But even Jon Snow think it’s wrong. If you want to contribute to this debate and defend this position, do not hesitate to contact us at hello@therift.eu!
Does Mr Teixeira knows how Portugal got its independence from what wasn’t Spain yet? How did the king’s ambassador leave the Palacio da Independencia in Lisbon?
After the betrayal by England at the end of the Spanish Succession War, and the breach of all the promises made by Philip of Bourbon at the signing of the Utrecht Treaty not to apply (any further) reprisals against the Catalans, the Catalans were the victims of what today would amount to a genocide. After the promulgation of the “Nueva Planta Decree”, Catalans were made “subjects of Castile”. They have endured political, economic, social, cultural and linguistic repression for over 3 centuries. Today, Catalonia is treated like a colony by the “Kingdom of Spain”. The EU cannot force the Catalan citizens of Europe to continue enduring their status as “prisoners” (just remember what is happening right now in Spanish courts and Spanish jails”). The EU must practice at the European home what it preaches elsewhere in the world.
it is because of conservative people like Teixeira that societies do not evolve… what a gray argumentation and position
although i’m in favor or a mediation in this conflict, i read Mr. Teixeira words with interest, mostly looking forward to find his view on what to do next; unfortunately, he provides no clues either on how to approach a solution
in my opinion, partly agreeing with Mr Teixeira, i would prefer an international (not Europe related) mediator, with experience and authority, without political or economical interests in the matter – someone who should be respected by both parties, but also by the global community
Shen Mr.Teixeira speaks about legal grané, he forgets that article 52 of t’he European Convention on Human Rights states that the legal EU frame don’t dismisses the obligations of the states under other international covenants, like ICCP.