The recognition of regional identities and cultures and the democratic right for people to decide of their own political future are European Union funding principles.

In Bilbao this year, Young Democrats for Europe have reminded their attachment to these principles while voting a motion on democratic dispute resolutions and the right to resolve political disputes by means of democratic process.

This self-determination, as it was named by the United Nations, has to be protected and guaranteed, in the Union as in every legal state, as a condition of the democracy stability.

The Scots yesterday, the Catalans today : the European Union and the member States have to hear and recognise these people’s request for giving their opinion about their political and economical future. Yesterday, Catalans were asked two questions: whether they wanted Catalonia to be a State and whether this State should become independent from Spain.

The Young Democrats for Europe ask the European Union to insure and maintain a climate of dialogue between the Spanish Government and Catalonia, and help Catalonia to lead its referendum process at its end. The votes has no direct legal consequences but in a way represents the freedom of expression of European people and shows that more discussions are needed to define how regional identities and cultures can be more taken into consideration.

For more details on this issue, you can also read the resolution adopted in Bilbao on the 27th of September 2014 on Democratic Dispute Resolution

Las Juventudes Demócratas Europeas animamos al pueblo Catalán a decidir su futuro democráticamente el 9 de Noviembre. @JNCatalunya #9N2014

— Young Dems for EU (@YoungDemsEU) November 8, 2014