MADRID (AP) A top European Union official has warned that the Spanish northeastern region of Catalonia would find itself outside of the EU if it were to secede from Spain.
European Commission competition regulator Joaquin Almunia said the EU is concerned over the economically powerful region's independence push.
Catalonia is looking to hold a self-determination referendum next year but the Spanish government strongly opposes the move.
Speaking in the Catalan regional capital of Barcelona, Almunia said Monday that if a part of EU member state secedes, "the segrated part is not an EU member."
More than 1 million people showed support for Catalan independence last Wednesday by forming a 400-kilometer (250-mile) human chain across the region.
