According to the head of the pro-independence Catalan National Assembly, European Union will not encourage Catalonia if the region decides to secede from Spain.

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MOSCOW (Sputnik)The European Union will not encourage Catalonia if the region decides to secede from Spain, the head of the pro-independence Catalan National Assembly (ANC) told Sputnik Monday.

Jordi Sanchez said that the European Union “will not roll out a red carpet before us, waiting for us to come with a new state to be admitted to the club.”

However, according to the political activist, when Brussels sees that there is a clear mandate from the Catalan people and a willingness on the behalf of the Catalan Government and Parliament to proceed with separating from Spain, it will act “to promote stability” in the European South.

He acknowledged the existence of "discreet contacts" between European diplomats and the Catalan Government, as well as "Catalan political and social agents,” adding that major European and Western governments had expressed interest about the processes currently unfolding in Catalonia.

"We are not at any stage to seek international recognition, because the process [of Catalonia gaining independence] is far from reaching the peak of democratic support in polls," Sanchez said.

On September 27, Catalonia is due to vote in regional elections. The Together for Yes coalition of pro-independence parties has pledged to set processes in motion for the autonomous region to separate from Spain, should it win the vote.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has repeatedly said that Catalan secession is illegal.

According to Sanchez, the Spanish Constitution permits the holding of independence referenda and the real problem lies in the “extremely restrictive” interpretation of the country’s law by the central government.