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About the Centre and how to correct its weight


The tragedy that unfolds between Spain and Catalonia requires immediate action from our politicians. However it seems that nobody is ready to stretch out for the two actors, Piegdemont and Rojoy. Such is clearly a job for elderly European Politicians and their silence is worrying me, so let’s first make them enthusiastic by giving them some ideas on what to offer.
What can we offer them?
Quite a lot. Something that irritates Catalans is that their language does not have the same status in Europe as for example Danish, Slovene or Maltese. It would be a great step forward for them to see their language, with more speakers as the here fore listed languages, as an official acknowledged language for Europe. Both France and Spain or even Andorra can put such a decision forward, if the latter would have the guts to formally join the Union. Such a decision costs money, but it also delivers better access to European Legislation to citizens for whom this language is their mother tongue. Hence the investment also gives a return, in a simple sense of additional taxes that can be paid by a better functioning local economy. Secondly such an inclusion will give way to the additional inclusion of Bask, Russian and other minority languages which in the end are to be included anyway if Europe wants to be more that the relict of wars won by random Kings and lost by other less lucky random warlords in a remote and now irrelevant history. It is about the famous inclusive society we like to talk about. It could be a first manner to make a difference. Just by employing some additional translators…
Of economical importance though is to discuss in how far regionalism, and separation can play a positive role in our economy. Regionalism is mostly considered as an egoistic flaw, in which a rich region, like Flanders, Catalonia, Scotland or Padania want to leave a bigger entity using some historic tales as excuse for not investing tax money in other parts of the State with whom no affinity is felt and which tend to have problems in developing itself. This type Regionalism creates apart from a subjective tale on how we interpret history, a pressure on the State to perform better, hence to waste less and to combat corruption in areas of the State which will be left over if the rich separatist area manages to split of. Such pressure in itself can create a positive incentive, providing a reason for politicians to do their utmost best to spend the national taxpayers money in an effective manner. Such regionalism is not bad and destructive, it gives a positive push to the centre to analyse its performance and to find solutions for problems. The North of the Netherlands, Groningen, for example has seen its natural Gas extracted with earthquakes as a result and a hesitation of the Central State to pay for the damage. Even in a small entity as the Netherlands a central state can behave egoistic and ineffective to develop the ‘remote’ area. If Groningen would be independent it would have been the Kuwait of Europe. If we therefore create a ‘constitutional right’ for an area to separate itself, we would have less risk of an arrogant centre absorbing all resources. A separation, however is a constitutional change and can therefore only be achieved it the region has a mandate by 2/3 of its voters for independence. The Brexit, the negative Ukraine referendum in the Netherlands, the Scottish referenda (just lost), all decisions, which are too important, and to decide such huge changes with just half of the electorate proved irresponsible. Politicians who want to fundamentally change a society should first gather at least a constitutional majority for their vision. 66 % for big changes, otherwise the implementation will be too indecisive and a tragic play as Boris and May are now displaying will be performed.

Piegdemont would like to be the founder of an independent Catalonia, but first he has to convince another, additional, million Catalans and make a clear plan on how to separate with respect from the rest of Spain. He now has to learn to assemble his people, otherwise dramatic changes will only lead to disaster.
Work to do, because regionalism keeps the arrogant centre awake and can be a positive incentive for change.

Take the opportunity to make Catalan an official European language Rajoy, recognize Kosovo, stop linking things that are not linked.
Cheer the richness of the Iberian Peninsula.
Be a man not a guard.

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