Chapter 2082 A Farce without a Future

Outside Spain, the foreign power that has long shown an interest in Catalonia is neighboring France.

However, there is an insurmountable natural danger Pyrenees between France and Catalonia. The reason why Charlemagne’s grandfather was able to block the attack of the Arabs was also due to this mountain range, so France’s attitude towards Catalonia Niah's support and control is destined not to last long.

This is why Catalonia eventually had to be integrated into modern Spain.

However, the special location close to the Mediterranean economic circle still gives Catalonia a unique advantage.

Compared with the capital Madrid, which is located deep in the plateau and has a dry climate, Barcelona, ​​the central city of Catalonia, is undoubtedly a marine city with great potential. Driven by it, Catalonia, whose land area only accounts for 6% of Spain, has 20% of Spain's population, and at the same time created 25% of Spain's GDP, and its economic strength is significantly stronger than that of other parts of the country.

In order to balance the national economy, around 10% of Catalonia's GDP has been used to subsidize poorer provinces since the end of the last century.

So like almost every developed part of the world, Catalans are complaining about state transfers and have never had a good impression of the poorer regions far inland.

Especially after the financial crisis in 2008, Spain's economic recovery was slow, and the unemployment rate was higher than 10% for a long time, and even reached 26% at one point, all driven by the engine of Catalonia.

In 2010, Catalonia responded to Spain's recession by electing the nationalist Atulmas as regional president.

Catalonia once held an independence referendum in 2014 with the support of the independence pusher.

The promoters of the referendum ignored the ruling of the Spanish Constitutional Court that the referendum was illegal, sent more than 2 million questionnaires in the autonomous region, and conducted a "symbolic vote" that was more like a poll. The survey results showed that more than 80% of the respondents Interviewees favor the establishment of independent nation-states. So much for Catalonia's disappointment with the central government.

However, will Catalonia gain more economically after it really becomes independent? The answer is hard to say.

On paper alone, post-independence Catalonia will become a small but rich country with a per capita GDP that exceeds that of Italy, and the main part of Spain will be on par with its small neighbor Portugal, or even worse.

But such beautiful data is only on the books after all. The main source of income for Catalonia is the shipping industry and the supporting industrial system. The infrastructure in Spain and the agricultural products needed by the northern countries are the main source of income for Catalonia. Solid guarantee.

If the region becomes an independent country, the "boundary effect" in foreign trade will appear: the trade friction within the same political entity is lower than that of foreign counterparts with similar conditions.

At that time, local Spanish products may refuse to go to sea in Catalonia, and prefer to transship from Valencia in the south or Santander in the north to enter the European continent.

From this point of view, the Valencia and Santander regions are very supportive of the independence of Catalonia, and they will reap huge benefits from it. Maybe it will be the second Catalonia.

This is still assuming that the Spanish government does not use retaliatory policies. If Madrid uses its advantage of controlling the lifeline of European food to coerce EU countries to block Catalonia, the lives of the people here will be more difficult.

In terms of currency, once Catalonia chooses to leave Spain behind, it will inevitably face the temporary absence of the euro as a legal tender.

The best case scenario is to re-apply to join the euro zone, but with Spain's strong opposition, this road is doomed to be difficult, and if you choose to use your own currency, rebuilding the exchange rate system will still be a devastating blow to business development.

It is also possible not to join the euro zone, but there is really no way out. The surrounding countries are all in the euro zone. Can Catalonia cut off contact with its neighbors?

In addition to the economic uncertainty, Catalonia's ZZ status is also awkward.

The European Union has not yet dealt with the history of member regions withdrawing first and then joining. Even if Catalonia is established as an independent country, it will be difficult to reintegrate into this big family and become a vacuum between France and Spain.

And NATO is also unable to provide it with legal protection in a short period of time, and its defense system must also be borne by itself, which is another heavy burden.

Of course, all these troubles are based on the true independence of Catalonia, and judging from the current situation, they are not qualified to think about these.

Madrid has made it clear that all forms of resistance, whether demonstrations, referendums or riots, cannot change the fact that Catalonia is Spanish territory.

The European Union has also stated that it does not support the Catalan independence faction. Brexit has exhausted the European Union and greatly increased geopolitical instability in Europe.

Against the backdrop of Europe's desire for unity and peace, the chaos in Catalonia will only irk European leaders.

In fact, some Catalan politicians asked the European Commission whether Madrid's actions were in line with the rule of law and whether they violated human rights.

However, the EU seems to have no enthusiasm for the investigation. President of the European Commission Juncker reiterated that this matter is Spain's internal affairs, and the EU is inconvenient to intervene. He also called on the Catalans to "seek unity and stability, not division."

It would be great if they could apply this calm and restrained thinking to the internal affairs of other countries.

In short, recently everyone's independent mood is very high, making these lonely nobles ready to move. I am afraid that these people are dreaming of restoring the country, dreaming of restoring the monarchy one day, but looking at it now, unless the whole world is wiped out Otherwise, it will be difficult for them to regain their former glory.

Compared with the baron, William seems very dissatisfied with this independent mood, and seems not to be interested in regaining the power of the royal family.

He took the initiative to change the topic, "Let's not talk about this, let's talk about our business. Is there any chance to go out of Bavaria in the future?"

William's eyes were fiery. He felt that this trip to Germany was worthwhile. At the same time, he also admired his business vision. It can be said that investing in Yang Cheng is his most powerful stroke.

After all, since the cooperation with Yang Cheng, his net worth has more than doubled. Outsiders thought he was an old man, but in fact, he had already got rid of his father's shadow and walked out of his own way. He believed that it would not be long. , he is the richest person in the entire royal family.

Well, it seems that a dignified nobleman shouldn't talk about money, it's a bit vulgar, but let's be vulgar, what things in this world can't be bought with money?

What love? Hehe, this word is not in the dictionary of the royal family!

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