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| EU Spain: Juncker does not want Catalonian independence | EU Spain: Juncker does not want Catalonian independence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said he does not back Catalan independence, fearing others may follow the same path. | European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said he does not back Catalan independence, fearing others may follow the same path. |
| Mr Juncker, speaking at a students forum in Luxembourg, warned it could result in a region too complicated for the European Union (EU) to govern. | Mr Juncker, speaking at a students forum in Luxembourg, warned it could result in a region too complicated for the European Union (EU) to govern. |
| Spain has been in turmoil since the separatist government in Catalonia held a disputed referendum on 1 October. | Spain has been in turmoil since the separatist government in Catalonia held a disputed referendum on 1 October. |
| The vote, declared invalid by Spain's top court, had a 43% turnout. | The vote, declared invalid by Spain's top court, had a 43% turnout. |
| Almost 90% of voters backed independence, Catalan officials say, resulting in the region's leaders signing a declaration of independence on Tuesday. | |
| However, Catalan separatist leader Carlos Puigdemont then halted its implementation to allow for talks with Madrid. | |
| Madrid, in turn, has issued its own ultimatums, with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy giving Mr Puigdemont five days to say whether or not he has declared independence. | |
| If Mr Puigdemont confirms by Monday that he has, he will be given a further three days to withdraw the declaration. | |
| If this does not work, Madrid has threatened to invoke Article 155 of the constitution, allowing it to suspend the region's autonomy and impose direct rule. | |
| Speaking at Luxembourg University on Friday, Mr Juncker urged Mr Rajoy - who has described the current situation as the most serious threat to Spain's democracy in its 40-year history - to bring the situation under control. | |
| The EU has made clear that, should Catalonia split from Spain, the region would cease to be part of the EU. | The EU has made clear that, should Catalonia split from Spain, the region would cease to be part of the EU. |
| It has also made it clear the issue of independence was one for Spain. | It has also made it clear the issue of independence was one for Spain. |
| However, Mr Juncker was open with his own views on the issue. | However, Mr Juncker was open with his own views on the issue. |
| "If we allow, but it's not our business, that Catalonia becomes independent, others will do the same and I wouldn't like that," he said. | "If we allow, but it's not our business, that Catalonia becomes independent, others will do the same and I wouldn't like that," he said. |
| "I wouldn't like a European Union in 15 years that consists of some 90 states." | "I wouldn't like a European Union in 15 years that consists of some 90 states." |