Answering
Foreign Minister (Lidegaard):

Thank you, Chairman. EL has asked me to explain if the government supports the right of peoples to self-determination in Catalonia.

Central to the answer is a more detailed understanding of the content of the right of peoples to self-determination, including the right includes a right to independence; so that a population will have its own state. Traditionally, a distinction is made between what is characterized as the internal and the external aspect of the right to self-determination.

The internal right to self-determination is a right of a people to within an existing state, let's call the parent state, to enjoy certain rights. There are a number of UN documents, more or less extensively determines the content of the norm, but like so many other international rules, the content discussed. Some aspects that are often highlighted, however, the opportunity to participate in the democratic process in the parent state, protection against discrimination, the right to speak and to be educated in their own language and generally to maintain social, cultural and religious traditions specific to that people. In short opportunity in the context of the parent state and the reasonable framework, the legislation had to put, to jointly maintain and cultivate people's identity. There was therefore the internal right to self-determination.

On the external right to self-determination generally means the right of a people to break away from the state itself against his will and to form its own independent state. This external aspect of the right to self-determination has a very limited scope. As people legal norm have the external right to self-determination, therefore, mainly reflected in afkoloniseringstiden in the 1960s and 1970s and can so far be seen as an expression of the principle that a people who inhabit overseas colonies, and which exhibits a political will to independence are entitled to it. This is roughly a description of the current main principles of self-determination.

These principles of self-determination is to be found in a significant ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada from 1998 on Quebec's possible independence from Canada. The decision, which I mention because it probably can be considered to be in accordance with current law, it is therefore considered that for Quebec, territorially constitute an integral part of Canada, there is an international right to independence from the parent state will. It held in that judgment that a state if the Government should represent the communities that inhabit the territory, on the basis of equality and without discrimination and with respect for their autonomy in the state's internal order, people are legally entitled to the protection of its territory territorial integrity ; So that the mother state has an international legal right not to be split up.

This formulation of course raises the question of what applies if the parent state does not respect a people's internal right to self-determination. Have it as a reflex effect to the people thus has a right to external self-determination, ie independence? The traditional answer is no. A State can probably violating the right to internal selvbe dance, but it does not as such the oppressed people a right to independence. If other states will protest above, other states seek to ensure parent state compliance with the principle of internal self-determination through the usual instruments such. political pressure, or by raising the issue in international forums.

However, I must emphasize that the Canadian Supreme Court in its decision states that there may be certain extreme situations of gross human rights violations and repression of the population. There are situations where the kid introduction of internal self-determination is so gross that the independence of the parent state must be accepted in international law.
It is the view of international law is not controversial, and we have from the Danish side did not take very detailed position on the specific contents of such a possible international legal right to independence as an expression of self-determination, but we reject the opposite either. As my description of the situation in Catalonia will now make clear that it is not relevant in this context. There is here no question of such an extreme situation that Catalonia international law have a right to independence.
Catalonia called in Spain as a historical Autonomous Region. This is done in recognition of the region's geographic, linguistic and cultural roots that reach back to the Middle Ages. The political role of Catalonia has played throughout history, however, is highly controversial. Catalanskorienterede politicians and historians emphasize normal for Catalonia in the entire period until the 18th century was a separate nation and in several periods even an independent and sovereign political entity. That changed after the War of the Spanish Succession, which began in 1701. Since Barcelona was conquered by Spain and incorporated fully integrated into the Spanish Empire in 1714, Catalonia lost some of its former status. For Catalan nationalists this is an important breakpoint in the region's history.
Supporters of the Spanish unit, by contrast greater emphasis on that Catalonia has never been a separate, independent political agreement, but have always been subject to other, larger states. In the Middle Ages the Catalan counties either vasaler for French kings or subject to the kingdom of Aragon. In 1469 Catalonia part of Spain and has remained so ever since. 1714 seen here only as a confirmation of this status.

With industrialization in the 19th century, Catalonia one of Spain's wealthiest and most developed regions, and at this time was the contemporary Catalan political movement for greater autonomy in the area. In 1932, Catalonia got its first Autonomy which recognized the region as a separate entity. It gave the right to own parliament and government, as well as special skills, inter alia, of health and welfare.

From 1939 suppressed the Spanish dictatorship regional differences in Spain. The regional political movements were forced into exile, and imposed restrictions on the learning and use of regional languages, including Catalan.
In the transition to democracy after Franco's death in 1975 was Catalonia to one of Spain's 17 autonomous regions. The region's new Autonomy was adopted by a large majority in 1979, and the first free regional elections were held the following year.
An audit of Autonomy adopted in 2006 under the then Socialist Zapateroregering, but in 2010 it was partly overruled by the Constitutional Court. Court annulled 14 of the Statute 223 articles and omfortolkede other 23. Among the known elements were partly formulations that the Catalan autonomy based on special historical rights and the term of Catalonia as a nation, as the Spanish constitution does not recognize other nations than the Spanish . Other sub-known aspects of the regulations was the formulation of the Catalan language that gave the Catalan special status in schools and in public administration and public media at the expense of Spanish as well as the proposed model with greater financial autonomy to the region.
The disappointment of the order of the new statute led to huge popular demonstrations in Catalonia. This is interpreted by many observers as the start of the current movement for independence, which can be seen both in political life and in subsequent demonstrations.

The Spanish regions have by European standards very extensive autonomy. Thus, health and education regional competences. Some regions such as the Basque Country, Navarra and Catalonia have more autonomy than others. Catalonia, for example. its own police, replacing the national police forces. As far as language is Catalan languages ​​in the region and used by the public institutions and authorities, as well as public radio and television activities in Catalan. In the public schools are taught in Catalan.

Let me conclude by summarizing: As mentioned, Catalonia a European scale extensive autonomy, and there is scope for the use of Catalan as the language and to develop Catalan culture. Following my review of the international legal aspects of the right to self-determination, it is also the government's view that in relation to Catalonia in no way involve serious human rights violations and repression of Catalans. There is not a situation where a denial of internal self-determination is so gross that the independence of the parent state must be accepted in international law. It is therefore the government's position that in relation to the debate on the possible Catalan independence is a matter in which the Danish government interference is neither necessary nor desirable.

The question of Catalonia's possible independence is a matter of Catalonia and the Spanish government in Madrid. I thank for the word.

President:
Also thank you from here to the Foreign Minister for the answer. Then we go to the debate, and it is only the rapporteur for their authors, Mr. Nicholas Villumsen.