More and more European figures declare that Crimea in the foreseeable future will not return to Ukraine. Its inclusion in Russia is already openly called a "completed case". This is evidenced by the Czech President Milos Zeman, the leader of the Free Democratic Party of Germany Christian Lindner and the deputy of the Bundestag from the same party Alexander Lambsdorf. However, Europeans propose to consider the Russian status of the peninsula as a temporary solution and urge to maintain sanctions against Moscow. However, unilateral declaration of independence by the authorities of Catalonia will force politicians from the EU countries to change their position regarding the Crimea. If the independence of the Spanish region is recognized, then not to recognize the results of the Crimean referendum will be extremely inconsistent, said the "Free Press". "At the official level, no country of the European Union is ready to recognize Crimea as part of Russia. This is due to the internal political situation, according to which there is a single consolidated opinion of the whole of Europe. But, as we see, this single opinion is gradually being transformed and modified, "said Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts of the PFUR Nikita Danyuk. According to him, two years ago, it was impossible to imagine the emergence of such statements on the Crimea at least from certain European politicians. It's all about the influence of the European business community, which requires the authorities of their countries to restore normal relations with the Russian Federation and, among other things, allow them to invest in the Crimean Peninsula. The final recognition of the Russian status of the republic on a pan-European scale in the next five years should not be expected. This is the principle of a single foreign policy, which is formed under the influence of Berlin and Washington. But in reality, everyone understands perfectly well that the Crimea will not return to Ukraine, the political scientist said.. The Crimean issue will be used in negotiations with Russia as a tool for gaining preferences on a particular topic. In general, Crimea is no longer a cornerstone in the relations between the Russian Federation and the EU. Possible recognition of the independence of Catalonia will facilitate the process of legalizing Russian jurisdiction over the Crimea. However, between the Crimean and Catalan referendums one can not equate, Danyuk is convinced, since the situation in Spain is caused by other reasons. "The situation in Catalonia is characterized by a systemic crisis in which the European Union. In addition to the historical, economic, political and other reasons for Catalonia's desire to secede from Spain, there is a major symptom. The process of building a major political entity called the European Union led to the fact that states lost most of their national sovereignty. Catalonia, as a successful economic region, understands that Spain does not have sovereignty, but has a subjectivity.

Therefore, they want to remove the mediator in the person of Madrid and directly start communicating with Brussels, "- said a specialist.

The Catalan precedent, like Kosovo in its time, according to Danyuk, can spin the flywheel "parade of sovereignties". On its independence can declare the Canary Islands and the Basque Country in Spain, Veneto and Lombardy in Italy, Flanders in Belgium, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the UK. The situation around Catalonia can lead to serious problems within the EU. It is no coincidence that Brussels has so far strictly advocated the preservation of the territorial integrity of Spain.