The EU and the Spanish Constitutional Crisis

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Series Details 06.11.17
Publication Date 06/11/2017
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During the events of the autumn of 2017 concerning Catalonia and Spain many commentators have discussed the issue of the EU reaction to developments - and noted the unwillingness, inability or inappropriateness of a more active role.

However, the decision by deposed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and some of his colleagues to travel to Brussels during October 2017 and the subsequent issue by Spanish legal authorities of an European Arrest Warrant, forced a European Union dimension into the developments.

In her analysis the author argued that the Spanish constitutional crisis could potentially call into question the whole system of cooperation in the European Area of Freedom Security and Justice.

See also a subsequent Blog from LSE EuroppBlog Understanding Spain’s decision to revoke the European Arrest Warrant for Carles Puigdemont

With Catalan elections scheduled for 21 December 2017, the fate of Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium in October, had taken on added significance. The latest twist in the case came on 5 December 2017, when the Spanish authorities revoked a European Arrest Warrant for Puigdemont, amid suggestions he was intending to voluntarily return to Spain.

Auke Willems explained the most recent developments, writing that while the Belgian courts, European law, and possibly the EU’s institutions had been given a reprieve from becoming involved in the crisis, the matter remained unresolved as the national arrest warrant against Puigdemont was still in place

Source Link Link to Main Source http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/the-eu-brought-on-stage-in-spanish.html
Related Links
Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 12.12.17: Understanding Spain’s decision to revoke the European Arrest Warrant for Carles Puigdemont http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/12/12/understanding-spains-decision-to-revoke-the-european-arrest-warrant-for-carles-puigdemont/
Catalan News, 07.12.17: 45,000 people attend demonstration in Brussels, according to Belgian police figures http://www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/45000-people-attend-demonstration-in-brussels-according-to-belgian-police-figures
Catalan News, 06.12.17: Spain has withdrawn the arrest warrant out of fear, Puigdemont says http://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/spain-has-withdrawn-the-arrest-warrant-out-of-fear-puigdemont-says
The Guardian, 05.12.17: Spanish judge withdraws arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/05/spanish-judge-withdraws-arrest-warrants-for-carles-puigdemont
Blog: Verfassungsblog, 08.11.17: On Cockroaches and the Rule of Law http://verfassungsblog.de/on-cockroaches-and-the-rule-of-law/
Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 30.11.17: How EU law came to the fore in the Catalan independence debate – and what it means for Carles Puigdemont http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/11/30/carles-puigdemont-european-arrest-warrant/
ESO: Key Source: Catalan independence referendum, 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalan-independence-referendum-2017/
ESO: Find further information in ESO on this topic http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=spain%20catalonia%20referendum%20independence%202017&searchOption=all

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