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Dutch official Frans Timmermans, the second-in-command to EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker, said Madrid had the right to use “proportionate force” to keep the country together in the face of an illegal referendum. Appearing before the EU parliament, the senior official said he had been “saddened” by the scenes of violence but laid the blame for them squarely at the door of the Catalan regional government. The EU Commission’s refusal to condemn the actions of Spanish police, who charged defenceless voters with batons and fired upon them with rubber bullets, has been criticised in many quarters.

GETTY EU Commission first vice-president Frans Timmermans

During tonight’s debate many MEPs expressed disgust that Brussels has refused to openly criticise Madrid’s tactics, saying it risked losing its legitimacy as a defender of human rights. Mr Timmermans was personally urged to deplore the ugly scenes, with the Commission being accused by some representatives of employing “double standards” by going soft of Spain. But the Dutch official was also frequently applauded during his speech, which offered a forceful defence of the Spanish constitution, and the application of the rule of law across Europe.

Reuters Protests against the police violence in Catalonia are ongoing

Twitter Spanish police have been accused of brutality against voters

He said: “Respect for the Rule of Law is not optional, it is fundamental. If the law does not give you what you want you can oppose the law, you can work to change the law, but you cannot ignore the law. “There is a general consensus that the regional government of Catalonia has chosen to ignore the law when organising the referendum held last Sunday. That does not change the fact that we have all seen saddening images. “Violence does not solve anything in politics. It is never an answer, never a solution, and it can never be used as a weapon or instrument. None of us want to see violence in our societies. “However, it is of course a duty of any Government to uphold the rule of law and this does sometimes require the proportionate use of force. Our union is not a state but it is a community of law. We must never lose sight of this.”

Respect for the Rule of Law is not optional, it is fundamental Frans Timmermans

Mr Timmermans said it was “essential” that member states are able to uphold their constitutions with the help of the EU. All countries must sign up to certain values, including democracy and free speech, to join the club. He said: “We understand that people wanted to express their views. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right for all European citizens but one opinion is not more valuable than another only because it is expressed more loudly. “If you believe because you feel passionately about something you can then say, because I feel so passionately about something I get to say what the rule of law is. “And you can then say I feel so passionate about something I can ignore the Rule of Law, be aware of the fact that what you think works for you now can be used against you by others who perhaps might feel equally as passionate about their position.”

Catalan referendum: Brutality of Catalonia's referendum vote Tue, October 3, 2017 Scenes at the Catalan independence referendum Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 17 People clash with Spanish Guardia Civil