MOSCOW (Sputnik) — If Catalonia gains independence from Spain with its unauthorized referendum on separation from Madrid, other regions may follow suit, a trend which the European Union would not favor, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Friday.
"If we allow it, but it is not up to us of course, if Catalonia is going to become independent and then other people would do it the same, I do not like that," Juncker said in a speech at the Luxembourg University.
The EU official clarified that it would be "impossible" to manage the continental bloc if the number of member states increased.
However, head of the autonomy's government Carles Puigdemont said urged the regional parliament to suspend the declaration of the region's independence and instead push for talks with the central authorities. Following his speech, Puigdemont and a number of lawmakers signed the declaration of independence, which has no legal force.
