Cutbacks inflicted by the Spanish Constitutional Court to the Catalan Statute of Autonomy crossed borders. One of the most remarkable voices criticizing the court decision was that of Jimmy Carter, former president of the US from 1977 to 1981. He said, very diplomatically, that the decision "sets up a temporal anomaly" as regards relations between Catalonia and Spain, and asked Catalan people to be patient because no court can change the "unique personality" of the Catalan culture.

Lásló Tókés, one of the vice-presidents of the European Parliament referred to the issue arguing that the reform of the Statute and the transferring of further powers were "necessary to meet the needs of Catalans". He pointed out that the subsidiarity principle is a "basic European value". Tókés is a member of the European parliament representing the Hungarian community within Romania and a leading figure in the struggle against the Ceauşescu régime. There is currently a campaign going on among Székely Hungarians from Transylvania to attain a self-government model based on that of the Principality of Catalonia.

Two pro-sovereignty political parties in Europe also expressed their disagreement with the court decision. Such is the case of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), the main political force in Flanders and Belgium after Belgium's parliamentary elections held a few weeks ago. N-VA's MEP Frida Brepoels expressed solidarity with Catalonia and declared "the problem is Spanish centralism". She encouraged Catalans to respond and make further steps towards independence.

Plaid Cymru -Welsh for the Party of Wales- declared the decision is "worrying and disappointing". Plaid Cymru's deputy in Westminster Jonathan Edwards further added it shrinks Catalan sovereignty and sets up a worrying precedent for large European states that feel their political hegemony is under threat.

Criticism has been heard also among linguists. Linguapax got the support of renowned linguists from across the globe to issue a declaration regretting the suppression of article 6.1, which established Catalan as Catalonia's own language and its preferential use in public administration and education. The declaration also demands respect for the democratic will of the people of Catalonia.

Further information:

• Col·lectiu Emma: The Spanish Constitutional Court ruling on the Catalan Statute and its political implications
• Directe.cat: El vicepresident de l'Eurocambra critica la retallada de l'Estatut perquè 'calia ampliar les competències de Catalunya'
• Vilaweb: El primer partit flamenc manifesta solidaritat amb Catalunya
• Linguapax: Clam internacional contra la vulneració dels drets lingüístics del català a Catalunya
• Nationalia: Spanish Constitutional Court cuts back Catalan Statute of Autonomy