Good analysis, Snowhitsky

Can I add that the Catalans I speak to seem to believe that that it is unthinkable that the EU would not let them straight (back) in the EU - that the EU needs Catalonia. The same applies to La Liga and Barcelona. I find that strange.

The Catalans that I speak to feel that the Constitution is unfair and therefore do not 'care' if they break it - hmmm... that is worrying.

Spain needs Catalonia for economic reasons, and I dread to think what would happen if Catalonia were to remove it's tax revenues from Spain. This alone could cause a large problem for the EU.

Not all doom n gloom 'tho - and independent Catalonia could eventually be quite a busy place indeed.