PRO-INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS PERVASIVE ACROSS EUROPE
Everyone knows the Catalan movement for independence but, did you know that there are at least 20 pro-independence movements in Europe? It's strange how even though a country is supposed to be a union of a communities there are still internal issues with autonomy.
For instance, the Basque Country, yet another region in Spain with strong nationalist sentiments, has its own defined culture and language and often criticizes the Spanish government. The identify more as Basques than Spaniards in many cases and have been given a lot of autonomy by the Spanish government to appease them.
In the UK, a small percentage of Northern Ireland and Wales seek independence, and more notably Scotland even held a referendum in 2014 that almost passed with 44.7% voting in favour of independence. All three wanting to get away from the Britain and the English in particular.
Bigger pro-independence movements can be found in Belgium. Flanders being a prosperous mostly Dutch region in the North has made its desire for independence clear and are currently waiting for further political action to be taken after the 2019 elections.
Brittany and Corsica (France); Wallonia (Belgium); Bavaria (Germany); South Tyrol, Sicily, Veneto, and Lombardy (Italy); Faroe Islands and Bornholm (Denmark); Székely Land (Romania); Upper Silesia (Poland); Czech Silesia and Moravia (Czech Republic); and Istria County (Croatia) are other communities that have small groups seeking independence.
All of these movements claim a feeling of nationhood, years of history and culture, a community that doesn’t belong to their ruling country and a dissatisfaction with how they are represented. What actions should their national governments take? Should they be given more autonomy? What needs to happen to have a more united Europe?
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