Catalonia to play bigger role in Spanish EU affairs

Once Catalonia's new autonomy statute comes into force the region will be playing a bigger role in Spain's dealings with the EU, with some fearing even greater difficulty to reach decisions at the European level.

If all goes according to plan, Catalonia will have its first new statute of autonomy in 27 years in a few days, after 74 percent of voters said 'yes' on Saturday (18 June) to a revised and more far-reaching statute of the region.

"It is a legal instrument to help us talk ...