The European Commission has continued to wash its hands of the political crisis in Catalonia, refusing to comment on the imprisonment of former ministers and the planned arrest of disputed president Carles Puigdemont.

In a frustrating press conference in Brussels a spokesperson refused to be drawn on recent events, giving short and repetitive answers to a variety of questions relating to the recent troubles in the region.

The Commission would also not confirm whether president Jean-Claude Juncker would even raise the issue of Catalonia when he visits the Spanish city of Salamanca next week.

Asked by reporters in whether Spain was right to use a European Arrest Warrant to pursue Mr Puigdemont for political crimes, a spokesperson for the Commission would only say: “This is a matter entirely for the judicial authorities whose independence we respect fully.”

The spokesperson would also not be drawn on whether it was right for Spanish authorities to jail eight Catalan ministers before they had been convicted of a crime.

“This is a question for judicial authorities and respect their independence,” she said.

And asked about the lack of international and domestic confidence in the independence of Spain’s judiciary, the spokesperson said:

“We fully respect the constitutional order of Spain and I have absolutely nothing to add to that well-established position.”

When it was put to the spokesperson that the Commission should “get off the fence” about the crisis a spokesperson would only reply: “It is a judiciary issue, for the judicial authorities. The judicial authorities are independent. We respect that independence.”

The spokesperson would not be drawn on why the Commission regularly intervened on the internal matters of other member states but was refusing to do so on Spain.

Mr Puigdemont is currently in Belgium, where he fled to avoid charges of rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds for his role in Catalonia’s declaration of independence last month.

Other members of his government have returned to Catalonia to face questioning on these charges; eight of them were imprisoned yesterday. Spanish authorities have indicated that they will seek to use a European Arrest Warrant, an EU instrument, to force the former president to face a Spanish court.

Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures Demonstrators block a Guardia Civil vehicle as they try to leave the Department of External Affairs, Institutional Relations and Transparency of the Catalan Government office in Barcelona AP/Emilio Morenatti Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures Demonstrators react as they try to stop the car carrying Xavier Puig, a senior at the Department of External Affairs, Institutional Relations and Transparency of the Catalan Government office, after he was arrested by Guardia Civil officers in Barcelona AP/Emilio Morenatti Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures A demonstrator reacts as he tries with others to stop the car carrying Xavier Puig, a senior at the Department of External Affairs, Institutional Relations and Transparency of the Catalan Government office, after he was arrested by Guardia Civil officers in Barcelona AP/Emilio Morenatti Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures Spokeswoman of the Catalan pro-independence anticapitalist party "Candidatura d'Unitat Popular - CUP" (Popular Unity Candidacy), Ana Gabriel, talks to the media in Barcelona Josep Lago/AFP Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures Republican Left of Catalonia party's (ERC) Member of Parliament Joan Tarda (C) attends a demonstration outside the regional Economy Ministry in Catalonia during a police search for documents connected with the organisation of the Catalan independence referendum, in Barcelona EPA/Alejandro Garcia Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures A man holds pro-referendum poster next to a Spanish Civil Guard who stands in front of the Economy headquarters of Catalonia's regional government in Barcelona. The operation comes amid mounting tensions as Catalan leaders press ahead with preparations for an independence referendum on October 1 despite Madrid's ban and a court ruling deeming it illegal Josep Lago/AFP Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures People hold placards reading "Democracy" as they protest in front of the Economy headquarters of Catalonia's regional government in Barcelona AFP Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures A crowd of protesters gather outside the Catalan region's economy ministry after junior economy minister Josep Maria Jove was arrested by Spanish police during a raid on several government offices, in Barcelona Reuters/Albert Gea Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures People holding 'Esteladas' (Catalan pro-independence flags) attend a protest near the Economy headquarters of Catalonia's regional government Lluis Gene/AFP Catalonia referendum protests – in pictures People demonstrate on a Spanish Civil Guard Police car outside the Catalan Vice-President and Economy office as police officers holds a searching operation inside David Ramos/Getty Images

The Madrid government has called snap Catalan regional elections for 21 December in order to elect a new Catalan parliament, after the current one voted to declare independence.