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Beyond Catalonia: pro-independence movements in Europe

This article is more than 6 years old

Nationhood and autonomy are issues that transcend north-east Spain, with others wanting to redraw the map of Europe. We look at some of the top movements

Europe overview map

Eastern Europe

Istria County

Croatia

Pop: 208,000, 4.9% of total

The Istrian Democratic Assembly party ​(IDS) wants greater regional autonomy and decentralisation across the country, but particularly in Istria, a region that straddles Croatia and Slovenia and whose borders have not been clearly defined since the break-up of former Yugoslavia in 1991. Ideally, the IDS would like to see the establishment of a transnational and cross-border euro-region.​ ​

Moravia

Czech Republic

Pop: 3 million, 30% of total

Moravia was a historical Czech land along with Silesia and Bohemia and, though formally abolished in 1949, is still commonly seen as a specific region with its own identity. A small non-parliamentary party, Moravané, has been advocating self-determination and independence through the restoration of a Moravian legislature since 2005.

Czech Silesia

Czech Republic

Pop: 1 million, 10% of total

See below

Upper Silesia

Poland

Pop: 3 million, 7.8% of total

Silesia is a region mainly in south-western Poland with small areas in Germany and the Czech republic. More than 800,000 people claimed Silesian identity in the Polish census of 2011, and the Silesian Autonomy Movement (RAŚ), led by Jerzy Gorzelik, won 8.5% of the vote in the 2010 local elections. Advocating the larger region's autonomy, RAŚ sees Silesia as a "separate nation" rather than made up of Poles, Czechs or Germans.

Székely Land

Romania

Pop: 500,000, 2.5% of total

Székely Land is a region of central Romania, some of whose ethnic Hungarians seek greater autonomy. According to a 2011 census, about 1.2 million ethnic Hungarians live in Romania, half of them in Székely Land. They are the largest minority group in the country since Hungary lost two-thirds of its territory to its neighbours after the first world war.

Northern Europe

Bornholm

Denmark

Pop: 39,664, 0.7% of total

Bornholm, a small island in the Baltic Sea with a population of about 40,000, has had an active self-government party seeking independence or greater autonomy since the 1990s. But despite a surge in popularity during Scotland's referendum and current support for Catalonia's independence attempt, it has rarely attracted more than a few hundred votes.

Faroe Islands

Denmark

Pop: 50,030, 0.9% of total

After voting narrowly for independence in 1946, the Faroe Islands have been an autonomous, self-governing country within the kingdom of Denmark since 1948. Citing linguistic and cultural differences as well as the 560 miles (900km) that separate the two geographically, four local parties – accounting for 17 of the 33 seats in parliament – seek full independence as a sovereign state.

Southern Europe

Lombardy

Italy

Pop: 10 million, 17% of total

One of Italy's wealthiest regions and home to Milan, Lombardy wants greater autonomy from Rome and more say on how to spend its money. Many voters here and in Veneto believe their taxes go to the poorer south rather than contributing to local investment. Just over 40% backed these goals in a recent referendum, though truly secessionist sentiment is restricted to fringe groups and the local independence party has only one municipal councillor.

Veneto

Italy

Pop: 4.9 million, 8% of total

The Veneto region and its capital Venice are another major contributor to Italy's economy. The region is seeking significantly greater autonomy from Rome, and particularly extra powers to set its own taxes. Like Lombardy, though, most residents do not want full independence.

Sicily

Italy

Pop: 5 million, 8.25% of total

Promoting a distinct local heritage, traditions, culture and language, several movements in Italy's autonomous region of Sicily seek greater autonomy or full independence. An autonomist party ran the island from 2008 to 2012 .

South Tyrol

Italy

Pop: 511,000, 0.9% of total

Predominantly German-speaking South Tyrol came under Italian administration at the end of the first world war. The region won significant autonomy from Rome in the 1970s, but a secessionist movement – including, in the 1950s and 60s, a liberation group that conducted a bombing campaign – has long campaigned for reunification with Austria, if necessary via an interim Free State of South Tyrol. About 25% of voters backed separatist parties in 2013, but a majority are satisfied with South Tyrol's existing autonomy arrangement within Italy.

Basque Country

Spain

Pop: 3 million, 4.6% of total

Basque nationalists have sought political unity and nationhood for all Basque-speaking people in Spain and France since the 19th century. The campaign has become less bloody in recent years after the militant separatist group Eta announced an end to half a century of violence in 2011. Having ceded the region significant autonomy, Madrid rejects all further changes demanded by separatists.

Catalonia

Spain

Pop: 7.5 million, 16% of total

According to the Catalan government, 90% of voters backed independence in the disputed 1 October referendum, although turnout was only 43% and there were many reports of irregularities. Spain is moving to impose direct control on the region in Spain's biggest constitutional crisis since the end of the Franco regime.

Corsica

France

Pop: 329,599, 0.49% of total

Corsica's nationalist movement has been seeking greater autonomy for the island since the 1960s. The National Liberation Front of Corsica has been demanding independence since 1976 with a campaign of bombings and assassinations – the island's prefect was killed in 1998 – but recently announced an "end to military operations". A pro-autonomy coalition, Pè a Corsica, won 24 of the Corsican assembly 51 seats in the 2015 regional elections.

Western Europe

Flanders

Belgium

Pop: 6.4 million, 56.3% of total

The more prosperous and mainly Dutch-speaking region in the north has long sought secession. The New Flemish Alliance is the largest party in the federal parliament. It has tempered its demands as part of the current coalition, but aims to push for further gradual devolution after 2019 elections that will lead to Belgium's eventual spilt.

Wallonia

Belgium

Pop: 3.6 million, 32% of total

The Belgian regions already enjoy considerable autonomy and most Walloons want to remain part of Belgium, while defending and promoting their French language and cultural identity. Independence movements, as well a groups calling for French-speaking Belgium to be incorporated into France, have historically attracted little support.

Brittany

France

Pop: 3.3 million, 5% of total

Brittany has a strong cultural identity and the region is considered one of the six Celtic nations along with Cornwall, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales. Breton nationalists seek self-rule, within or outside France, the defence and promotion of of Breton music, traditions and symbols, including the Breton language, which is spoken by about 200,000 people. Many Bretons also consider that Brittany should include the département of Loire-Atlantique. A 2013 poll found that 18% of Bretons support independence, while 37% said they would describe themselves as Breton first, compared with 48% as French first.

Bavaria

Germany

Pop: 12.9 million, 15.6% of total

Bavarian nationalism has been strong since the state's incorporation into Germany in 1871. While the separatist Bavaria party was a significant player in the 1950s, its electoral share fell over subsequent decades. However, a 2017 poll suggested one in three Bavarians favour independence.

Northern Ireland

UK

Pop: 1.8 million, 2.8% of total

Ulster nationalism, which seeks the independence of Northern Ireland from the UK without joining the Republic, has been a minority movement since the 1920s but is not supported by any of the region's main political parties. Although enjoying a revival after the 1985 Anglo-Irish agreement, it has failed to gather mainstream support.

Scotland

UK

Pop: 5.4 million, 8.2% of total

Scotland began seeking home rule in the mid-19th century and the Scottish National party has been campaigning for full independence since it was founded in 1934. A country within the UK, Scotland's devolved legislature has had responsibility for a range of powers since 1999. More than 84% of Scottish voters cast their ballots in an independence referendum in 2014, with 44.7% voting in favour and 55.3% against. Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader and Scotland's first minister, has said another referendum is highly likely since the UK's Brexit vote.

Wales

UK

Pop: 3.1 million, 4.7% of total

Wales has had an independence movement since the mid-19th century and Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, has been actively campaigning for sovereignty since it was founded in 1925. Like Scotland, Wales voted in favour of devolution in a 1997 referendum and established its devolved assembly two years later. Recent opinion polling suggests more than 40% of Welsh voters support more powers for the assembly, while about 25% are in favour of full independence.

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