Crowds raise their arms up as Spanish police seek to stop voting in in Sant Julià de Ramis | David Ramos/Getty Images European Parliament to debate Catalan independence vote European Parliament president says rule of law and fundamental rights in Spain will be discussed.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said Monday that MEPs will hold a debate on the situation in Spain following the contested Catalan independence referendum on Sunday.

Tajani tweeted that he spoke with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, and the European Parliament will debate the “Constitution, rule of law and fundamental rights in Spain in light of the events in Catalonia.”

MEPs voted Monday in favor of holding the debate on Wednesday afternoon.

The northeast region of Spain held a referendum Sunday on whether to secede from Spain, which the Spanish government had deemed to be illegal. Nearly 2.3 million ballots were counted — less than half of eligible voters — and more than 90 percent voted Yes for independence.

European leaders have been left largely tongue-tied as to how to react to the vote, with the Commission insisting that it was “an internal matter for Spain.”

Catalan leaders have urged the EU to respond, especially after the regional health ministry reported that more than 800 people were injured by police trying to block the vote.

Maïa De La Baume contributed reporting.