The unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia is valid and legal under

international law. However, it does not create an active statehood. In order for the Catalans
to become a fully sovereign State, they need to be recognized by other countries as such.

Catalonia is one of 17 autonomous regions of Spain. It accounts for one-fifth of Spain’s

economic output and is regarded as one of the centers of business and commerce.

On October 1, 2017, Catalonia conducted a referendum on whether it should be declared an

independent state from Spain. The result favors secession from Spain: 90% of the voters
chose to secede, however, with a turnout of less than the majority. On Oct. 27, the Catalan
Parliament passed a resolution to “create a Catalan republic as an independent state.”
Hours later, this was declared illegal, null and void by the central government. It arrested
government officials involve, confiscated ballots, and closed voting stations, among others.

Catalonia’s struggle for independence can be perceived even in pre-dictatorship era of

Francisco Franco (1939-1975). After Franco’s rule, Spain returned to democracy. Catalonia
opted to remain under Spain but with limited political control of the latter. However, this
degree of political autonomy, according to Catalans, was not enough. Hence, the surfacing
of powerful nationalist movement fighting for full independence that continued up until
today. Catalans claimed a pronounced sense of cultural identity. Also, many held economic
grievances as it turns out that Catalonia pays more in taxes to the Spanish government than
it gets back.

The case of Catalonia can be likened to that of Kosovo’s. Kosovo, through a referendum last
2008, declared independence from Serbia, which denied to acknowledge such referendum
and regarded it as illegal. In spite of that, countries around the world began to recognized
Kosovo’s independence; thus, resulting to a de facto status of Kosovo as an independent
state.

In an advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice declared that Kosovo’s adoption of
the declaration of independence did not violate general international law because
international law contains no prohibition on declaration of independence.

In relation to the subject matter at hand, Catalonia’s unilateral declaration of independence

should also be regarded as valid. Kosovo’s case should be a precedent and a basis.