brussels spain eu partner fear mount crisis catalans late push independence public support mariano rajoy belie disquiet conservative prime minister hardline tactics might backfire foreign leaders speak domestic dispute government court madrid say catalan regional authorities barcelona defy constitutional ban secession prepare independence referendum oct. 1. official european union line spanish democracy work spaniards settle affairs accord national laws worsen standoff police arrest elect catalan officials week trouble officials politicians abroad fear may hurt europe various ways german chancellor angela merkel spokesman echo line ask reuters recent contact matter rajoy fellow conservative stress internal spanish matter spokesman also recall merkel previous years tell rajoy berlin great interest maintenance stability spain less constrain diplomatic protocol europeans start speak rajoy put lot oil fire fuel independentist debate make huge mistake ska keller german co-leader green european parliament tell reuters call may influence rajoy intercede calm things publicly refuse take side whether catalan breakaway desirable european leaders would welcome 2014 referendum scotland unlike catalonia vote hold bless central government london countries fear encourage separatists home belgium flemings italy lombards also broad unwillingness britain exit eu open another pandora box economic uncertainty legal disruption eu chief executive jean-claude juncker irk catalans seize remark last week could join eu independence suggest favor cause european commission president say reiterate so-called prodi doctrine date back 13 years breakaway state would leave union could let back gain independence accordance constitutional law member state leave juncker also say rich regional traditions become elements separatism fragmentation europe commission officials reject suggestions give madrid soft ride complaints spain constitution stifle catalan right eu threaten suspend poland warsaw government plan constitutional change commission feel constrain eu law take side spain european parliament lead european people party epp center-right bloc rajoy merkel juncker belong vocal back madrid antonio tajani legislature italian conservative president bluntly tell catalan newspaper last week ignore spain constitution undermine legal basis whole european union rule say tough line democratic legal line epp spanish secretary-general antonio lopez-isturiz say note catalans vote constitution 1978. eu legislature center-left group also back view spain constitution must respect nonetheless legal approach cause disquiet grow concern europe way rajoy handle say steven blockmans centre european policy study try keep board tactics fuel independence debate blockmans suggest spain look native belgium amend constitution devolve power leader belgium powerful dutch-speaking flanders region issue call thursday international mediation catalan crisis andrew duff british liberal former eu lawmaker european policy centre think-tank say eu leaders engage quietly rajoy try soften sense crisis already make public rajoy play cleverly duff say brussels perspective kind domestic constitutional crisis cry political sophistication high level yet see either catalans madrid put commission awkward position senior eu official say juncker likely go exercise right stay largely silent issue like police show say anything say hold good say anything spook catalonia eu rally behind madrid warily