The Italian minister publicly claimed she would personally get rid of the country’s self-governing regions – an ill-informed, controversy-stirring populist claim.
The EU – and its member-states – should not rest on their laurels: these independence movements are only going to get stronger.
Spain, and Catalonia within it, is now exhausted from an unprecedented and exceedingly destructive economic crisis which has triggered a vast social crisis that has ended up in a serious political crisis.
Optimism among Catalans after Sunday's vote should not disguise the significant challenges ahead if anything is to come from their "non-referendum consultation".
Rajoy's iron-fisted approach to the Catalan question has only made the independence movement stronger. Now he must negotiate or risk losing Catalonia for good.
Artur Mas was suitably elated at the turnout, while Mariano Rajoy continues to denounce the "referendum" and its leaders.
European integration has made secession more viable and less costly. Expect Scotland to be the first of many nations to take their calls for self-determination to the ballot box.
In the wake of the Scottish vote, Corsicans are trying to gain publicity for their own, often neglected, struggle for self-determination. Could we soon see an independence referendum on this small, Mediterranean island?
Despite the referendum result, Basque nationalists still see Scotland as an inspiration for their own national struggle for self-determination.
In 1983, I was first elected to the South Tyrolean Parliament. Since then I have continued to fight for the self-determination of the South Tyrolean people, as our movement goes from strength to strength.
Will the Scottish vote strengthen the secessionist movement in the restive Italian province of South Tyrol?
The Scottish vote has shown it is possible to have an independence referendum for nations within the EU. So who are the likely candidates to go next?
