Is It Not About Time The Eu Stepped In?

[youngmafbog]

During the referendum politicking we hear a lot about how the EU prevents wars. So where are they now when they are really needed to sort out the Spanish mess?

This could get out of hand well fast and will be detrimental to a lot of countries. The EU, headed by Junker, should be leading and at least aiding getting this sorted.

Perhaps Junker is still looking for the answer at the bottom of a bottle?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5023203/Catalonia-explode-violence-Madrid-imposes-rule.html

[Peter Pedant]

is it time the EU stepped in ?

deffo yes if you have no idea at all how the EU is meant to function
otherwise no as it is a national and not supranational issue

[ichkeria]

I am hugely confused.
Aren't you always complaining that the EU is interfering in private national politics?
I am sure the EU will assist if required, but what exactly are they supposed to do?
There isn't going to be a war, btw. Catalonia doesn't have an army.

[Zacs-Master]

You couldn’t make it up could you Ich.

You’re a conundrum wrapped up in a riddle YMB, you truly are.

[Old_Geezer]

The lie is that being in the EU automatically keeps the peace. They aren't going to rush in to quell internal national disputes.

The next step (or maybe the one after) is for Spain to send the military in to restore order as they see it. Then one can look out for the creation of the Catalan Liberation Front (not to be confused with the Liberation Front of Catalan).

[ichkeria]

They won’t send in the military unless there is some sort of staged or manipulated disorder. Rajoy needs to see that he is potentially being baited here.
As for the EU it is a wilful distortion that they are there to ‘keep the peace’. The theory is that nations bound together by economic and political union are not going to develop opposing ‘empires’ : it isn’t supposed to cater for unilateral declarations of independence

[Old_Geezer]

If they don't then they can wave goodbye to direct rule. They may try the police first. Somehow I suspect that wouldn't be enough.

[webbo3]

\\During the referendum politicking we hear a lot about how the EU prevents wars. //

I always thought NATO prevented wars.

[Kromovaracun]

- The EU meddles too much in internal affairs.

- The EU should intervene in here, and it's awful that they don't.

As Ich says, the EU has always been about creating the environment for peace or at least the incentives for peace. It has not yet developed true "peacekeeping" institutions like NATO or the UN. It may be that crises such as this one at a time when the US is seeming more isolationist force the Union to consider inventing them.

On all this tiresome and rather juvenile sneering about the EU's peace mission: The EU was founded by - and mainly constitutes - countries that have centuries of experience seeing the ugliest side of war again and again and again. The choice was very simple: stay stuck in the cycle of "every power for itself" which destroyed the continent many times over, or make a serious effort towards mutual dependence, co-operation and peace. Europe can try for that, and gradually learn from its mistakes to improve that mission, or it can give up because it is too hard and go back to the bad old days. I personally know which one I would choose.

[Jackdaw33]

The UN a peacekeeping organisation? Don't make me laugh.

[DTCwordfan]

they could twin up with Gibraltar......

[mikey4444]

Catalonia independence: Spain takes charge of Catalan government

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41785292

It could get nasty, methinks !

[Zacs-Master]

Can’t understand why the telegraph are reporting that Catalonia are still striving to establish themselves when it’s clear that a politically and financially unrecognised body (the ex Catalan Govt) will not be taken seriously by anyone.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/10/27/catalans-race-create-new-currency-economic-fortress-counter/

[Peter Pedant]

// You’re a conundrum wrapped up in a riddle YMB, you truly are.//

yeah ! 'n 'n enigma - yeah dat as well!

( it should of course be - 'n 'n 'nigma - try saying that wiv your mouth full of breakfast muesli peace porridge - it's a night mare ! )

(thx to Disraeli - / churchill - "the shlezwig holstein q is a riddle wrapped up in a enigma topped off with hollandaise sauce" or something.- - - - da shlezwig of course.....1866)

[youngmafbog]

So what is wrong with suggesting the EU lead the negotiations as a third party? Both want to be in the EU so its not as if the EU would have a skewed interest. I did not anywhere suggest the EU interfere I suggested they pick up the mantle and lead.

// but what exactly are they supposed to do? //

As I suggested in the OP. Lead and aide.

[youngmafbog]

PP, tablet time me old china.

[youngmafbog]

ZM, perhaps the reason is that the Catalan ex-Government have not thought this through and so are striving for the impossible?

[Zacs-Master]

I’m not sure you’ve read the link YMB. They’re reporting it like Catalan still has a chance of making a go of it.

[Zacs-Master]

‘So what is wrong with suggesting the EU lead the negotiations as a third party?’

You have a very strange view of what the EU do YMB. It isn’t peace negotiations. And certainly not in an country’s internal,affairs.

[Kromovaracun]

//The UN a peacekeeping organisation? Don't make me laugh.//

Way to catastrophically miss the point.

[murraymints]

would not holiday on the Costa Brava / Barcelona any time soon... going to get nasty....