Pressure Mount on Spain-Catalan Leaders in Move to Declare Independence

The pressure against the independence bid by the Catalan region has extended across Europe, with the European Union threatening to cut off the region if it breaks away.
German Chancellor ANGELA MERKEL has also affirmed her support for the unity of Spain, while the French government minister NATHALIE LOISEAU his country would not recognize an independent Catalan nation.
The positions were made as Catalonia’s parliament was due to meet yesterday with the expectation that it would endorse the declaration of independence.
However, the session was blocked by the Spanish Constitutional Court, which had also sought to stop the referendum itself.
Catalan President CARLES PUIGDEMONT is billed to address the parliament later today, and the Mayor of Barcelona, ADA COLAU, has urged him not to declare independence.