The Spanish government should offer Catalonia a referendum on federalism, not independence

Catalonia held a non-binding consultation on independence on 9 November 2014. Francesc Trillas assesses the argument that the Spanish government should now seek to address the Catalan independence debate by proposing a formal referendum on the issue. He argues that while there are benefits to holding a referendum, there are also a number of costs in the Catalan case, and that offering a binding vote on federalism would be a far better option for Catalonia, Spain and Europe as a whole.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Catalan self-determination referendum http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalan-self-determination-referendum/

ESO: Background information: The law is the law: legalistic distortions between official Spain and Catalonia / After the Catalan vote, Spain needs to buy time / Catalonia referendum: a reality check http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-law-is-the-law-legalistic-distortions-between-official-spain-and-catalonia-after-the-catalan-vote-spain-needs-to-buy-time-catalonia-referendum-a-reality-check/

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