Secessionist Movements in Europe

Various ethnic groups in Europe are seeking greater autonomy or independence. In the European Union, several of these groups are members of the European Free Alliance. In some cases, the group seeks union with a neighboring country.

[edit] Albania

• Greeks in Albania
  • Proposed state, Proposed autonomous region
    •  Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus (Northern Epirus)
    • Political parties
      • Unity for Human Rights Party

[edit] Azerbaijan

Nagorno-Karabakh

• De facto state:  Nagorno-Karabakh Republic^[1]

Talysh-Mughan

• Proposed autonomous area:  Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic^[2]

[edit] Belgium

Further information: Partition of Belgium

•  Brussels-Capital Region
  • Political parties (seeking a union with France):
    • Rassemblement Bruxelles-France
  • Political parties (seeking a union with Flanders):
    • Lijst Dedecker
    • Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (member of the European Free Alliance)
    • Vlaams Belang member of the Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty-Group
•  Flemish Region
  • Political parties (seeking independence or confederation and, in some cases, a certain degree of cooperation with the Netherlands):
    • Lijst Dedecker
    • Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (member of the European Free Alliance)
    • Vlaams Belang member of the Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty-Group
•  Walloon Region
  • Political parties (seeking a union with France):
    • Rassemblement Wallonie France

[edit] Bosnia and Herzegovina

•  Republika Srpska
  • Political parties: Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, Serbian Democratic Party^[3]

•  Herzeg-Bosnia
  • Political party: Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian Democratic Union 1990, Croatian Christian Democratic Union

[edit] Croatia

•  Istria
  • Political parties: Istrian Democratic Assembly, Istrian Democratic Forum

•  Serbian Krajina
  • Political party: Republic of Serbian Krajina Government in Exile

[edit] Cyprus

•  Northern Cyprus
  • De facto state: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

[edit] Czech Republic

•  Moravia
  • Political parties: Moravané (member of the European Free Alliance)^[4]

[edit] Denmark

•  Faroe Islands
  • Political party: Republican Party, People's Party, Centre Party, Self-Government Party

[edit] Finland

•  Åland
  • Political party: Future of Åland (member of the European Free Alliance)
  • Proposed state: Åland
•  Sami
  • Proposed autonomous region: Sápmi^[5]

[edit] France

Some of the claimed nations and/or regions - 1. Brittany, 2. France proper (excluding Flanders), 3. Occitania, 4.Lorraine which is sometimes part of France proper, 5. Alsace, 6. Basque Country, 7.Catalonia and 8. Corsica.

Irredentist movements

•  Nord-Pas de Calais  Flanders (see French Flanders and French Netherlands about movements for autonomy and reunification withFlanders of Belgium.)

Secessionist movements

•   Basque Country
  Main article: Basque nationalism
  • Political party: Abertzaleen Batasuna (AB), Batasuna, Eusko Alkartasuna (member of the European Free Alliance), Parti Nationaliste Basque.
  • Pressure group: All local politicians^{[citation needed]}, even those in "French" parties, agree to demand a Basque département and co-officiality of Basque language, a demand that has been rejected by the French government.
  • Trade union: Euskal Langileen Alkartasuna, Langile Abertzaleen Batzordeak
  • Youth pressure groups: Egi, Gazte Abertzaleak, Iritzarri, Segi
  • Militant organization: Iparretarrak (defunct), ETA, Irrintzi
  • Proposed state: Euskadi or Euskal Herria (Basque Country)

•  Brittany
  • Pressure groups: Celtic League
  • Political party: Adsav, Emgann
  • Militant organization: Armée Révolutionnaire Bretonne, Front de Libération de la Bretagne
  • Proposed state: Brittany

•  Northern Catalonia
  • Political party: Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (member of the European Free Alliance), Bloc Català
  • Proposed state: Països Catalans

•  Corsica (Main article: Corsican nationalism)
  • Political party: Corsica Libera
  • Militant organization: National Front for the Liberation of Corsica
  • Proposed state: Corsica

•  Savoy
  • Political party: Savoyard League

Gradual and eventual secession

•  Brittany
  • Political party: Breton Party

Autonomist movements

•  Alsace-Lorraine
  • Political party: Alsace d'Abord, Forum Nationaliste d'Alsace-Lorraine, Union du Peuple Alsacien

•  Brittany
  • Political party: Union Démocratique Bretonne (member of the European Free Alliance),

•  Corsica (Main article: Corsican nationalism)
  • Political party: Partitu di a Nazione Corsa (member of the European Free Alliance)
  • Proposed autonomous area: Corsica

•  Normandy
  • Political party: Le Mouvement Normand
  • Proposed region: Normandie (to merge the two regions of Basse-Normandie and Haute-Normandie opposed by Norman activists).

•  Savoy
  • Political party: Savoyard League

•  Occitania
  • Political party: Partit de la Nacion Occitana, Partit Occitan (member of the European Free Alliance), Iniciativa per Occitània, Anaram au Patac, Hartèra

Rearrangement of regions

• Picardie (region), by activists are the Picard people. the French government regional committee had planned to subdivide the region and give each one of the 3 departements to neighboring regions of Champagne-Ardenne, Ile-de-France and Nord Pas-de-Calais. The Picard people are divided on this proposal.^{[citation needed]}
• Several regions want to be divided into newer ones, notably in the Midi-Pyrenees and Alpes-Cote de Azur.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Georgia

Abkhazia (member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization)

• De facto state:  Republic of Abkhazia

Armenians in Samtskhe-Javakheti

• Proposed autonomous area: Javakhk autonomous region
  • Advocacy groups: Javakhk, United Javakhk Democratic Alliance, Virk

South Ossetia

• De facto state:  Republic of South Ossetia

[edit] Germany

•  Bavaria
  • Political party: Bavaria Party (member of the European Free Alliance)^[6]
• Frisia (see The Netherlands)

[edit] Italy

•  Padania
  • Proposed State: Padania
  • Political parties: Lega Nord
•  Aosta Valley
  • Political parties: Valdotanian Union, Edelweiss Aosta Valley, Autonomist Federation, Valdotanian Renewal, Lively Aosta Valley, Lega Nord Valle d'Aosta
•  Piedmont
  • Political parties: Lega Nord Piemont
•  Lombardy
  • Political parties: Lega Lombarda, Lega Alleanza Lombarda, Lombard Independentist Front
•  Insubria
  • Pressure groups: Domà Nunch ^[7]
•  Trentino
  • Political parties: Union for Trentino, Lega Nord Trentino, Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party, Autonomist Trentino, Ladin Autonomist Union, United Valleys, Popular Autonomy,Fassa
•  South Tyrol
  • Political parties: South Tyrolean People's Party, Union for South Tyrol, The Libertarians, South Tyrolean Freedom, Political Movement Ladins, Democratic Party of South Tyrol,Lega Nord Sud Tirolo
  • Militant organizations: South Tyrolean Liberation Committee
•  Veneto
  • Movement: Venetism
  • Political parties: Liga Veneta, North-East Project, Liga Veneta Repubblica, Venetians in Movement, Venetian National Party, Venetian People's Unity
•  Friuli-Venezia Giulia
  • Political parties : Lega Nord Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Movement, Giulian Front, Front Furlan
•  Liguria
  • Political party: Lega Nord Liguria, Ligurian Independentist Movement
•  Emilia
  • Political parties: Lega Nord Emilia
•  Romagna
  • Political parties: Lega Nord Romagna
•  Tuscany
  • Political parties: Lega Nord Toscana
•  Marche
  • Political parties: Lega Nord Marche
•  Umbria
  • Political parties: Lega Nord Umbria
•  Sardinia
  • Political parties: Sardinia Nation, Sardinian Action Party, Independence Republic of Sardinia, To the Left for Independence
•  Sicily
  • Political parties: Movement for the Independence of Sicily, Sicilian Alliance, Sicilian People's Party, Sicilian National Front
  • Pressure groups: Terra e Liberazione
•  Southern Italy

Main article: Southern Italy autonomist movements

• Political parties: Movement for Autonomy, Federalist Alliance, Lega Sud Ausonia, Southern Action League

[edit] Lithuania

•  Samogitia
  • Samogitian Party

[edit] Macedonia

•  Illyrida
  • Political party: Democratic Party of Albanians
  • Status: Continued unrest within Albanian-majority areas of Macedonia^[8]

[edit] Moldova

•  Gagauz Yeri
  • Status: Turkic people - autonomous region.^[9]

•  Transnistria
  • Status: De facto state: Transnistria^[10]

[edit] Netherlands

•  Frisia
  • Political party: Frisian National Party, (member of the European Free Alliance)
  • Status: Democratic movement seeking greater autonomy for Frisian-speaking people in Fryslân^[11]

[edit] Norway

•  Sami
  • Proposed autonomous region: Sápmi^[5]

[edit] Poland

•  Upper Silesia
  • Political party: Silesian Autonomy Movement^[12]

[edit] Romania

• Székely Land: Székely autonomy initiatives
  • Political organisation: Szekler National Council^[13]

[edit] Russia

•  Adygea^{[citation needed]}
•   Chechnya
  • Militant organization: Chechen separatists; though recently Ramzan Kadyrov, the Russian-appointed leader of the Chechen Republic within Russia has also made statements seeming to support broad autonomy,^[14] criticizing Russian attempts to make a "North Caucasus" district ^[14] inviting back separatist leader Akhmad Zakayev,^[15] and very warm (and somewhat disturbing for Russia even) support for Abkhaz independence ^[15]
  • Proposed state: Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
•  Dagestan
•  Ingushetia
•  Kabardino-Balkaria
•  Karachay-Cherkessia
•  North Ossetia-Alania^{[citation needed]}
•  Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia
  • Proposed state: Caucasian Emirate (claimed successor to Ichkeria)
•   Tatarstan
  • Political party: All-Tatar Public Center
  • Proposed state: Tatarstan, Idel-Ural
•  Kalmykia
•  Udmurtia
  • Movement: the Udmurt Counsel [sic] is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
  • Proposed state: Udmurtia
• Circassia
  • Movement:Circassian Congress; Circassian Youth Initiative; Adyge Djegi
  • Proposed state: Circassia, including all regions historically included in Circassia and/or inhabited by Circassians (note: this includes Adygea as well as large parts of Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachey-Cherkessia, Krasnodar Oblast, and Stavropol' Oblast)
• Balkar and Karachay peoples
  • Movement:Various nationalist organizations in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia
  • Goals:Firstmost, the establishment of autonomy for the Karachai and Balkars, rather than in biethnic republics where they must share power with Russians and Circassians (division of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia into smaller units, also popular for Circassian nationalists). Then, the unification of Karachay and Balkar units is advocated by some but not all nationalists (see Balkar and Karachai nationalism)

[edit] Serbia

•  Republic of Kosovo (member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization)
  • de facto state: Republic of Kosovo
  • Political parties: Democratic League of Kosovo, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Democratic Party of Kosovo, National Movement for the Liberation of Kosovo, The People's Movement for Kosovo
  • Militant organization: Kosovo Liberation Army (became Kosovo Protection Corps)
  • See also: Kosovo independence precedent and International reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
•  North Kosovo
  • Proposed state: part of Serbia
  • See also: 2008 unrest in Kosovo, 2004 unrest in Kosovo, and Kosovo Serb enclaves
•  Vojvodina; Autonomy, Hungarian Regional Autonomy
  • Political parties: The League of Vojvodina Social Democrats, Democratic Party of Vojvodina Hungarians, Democratic Community of Vojvodina Hungarians, Hungarian Civic Alliance, Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians; see also Hungarians in Vojvodina

[edit] Spain

•  Basque Country (Autonomous Community of Basque Country and  Navarre) (Main article: Basque nationalism)
  • Political parties:
    • Partido Nacionalista Vasco (member of the European Democratic Party)
    • Eusko Alkartasuna (member of the European Free Alliance)
    • Aralar
    • Nafarroa Bai
    • Basque Nationalist Action
    • Batasuna (illegalized due to terrorism support)
  • Trade union: Euskal Langileen Alkartasuna, Langile Abertzaleen Batzordeak
  • Youth pressure groups: EGI, Gazte Abertzaleak, Iratzarri, Segi
  • Militant organization: Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA)
  • Proposed state: Euskal Herria (Basque Country)
•  Catalonia (Catalan independentism),  the Land of Valencia and  the Balearic Islands
  • Civil Organization: Sobirania i Progrés, Plataforma pel Dret de Decidir, Cercle d'Estudis Sobiranistes, Deu Mil en Xarxa per l'Autodeterminació, Solidaritat Catalana per la Independència.
  • Pressure groups: Catalunya Acció, Free Catalonia, Moviment de Defensa de la Terra, Reagrupament.
  • Youth pressure groups: Maulets, Coordinadora d'Assemblees de Joves de l'Esquerra Independentista, Joventuts d'Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, Endavant, Sindicat d'Estudiants dels Països Catalans, Joventut Nacionalista de Catalunya, Negres Tempestes.
  • Political parties (pro-Catalan Countries): Candidatura d'Unitat Popular (in the Catalan Countries); Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (in Catalonia, Balearic Islands, andNorthern Catalonia; called Esquerra Republicana del País Valencià in the Valencian Country), (member of the European Free Alliance); Estat Català (only based in Catalonia).
  • Political parties (based in the Land of Valencia): Bloc Nacionalista Valencià.
  • Political parties (based in the Balearic Islands): Partit Socialista de Mallorca-Entesa Nacionalista (in Majorca), Entesa de l’Esquerra de Menorca (in Menorca).
  • Political parties (autonomist): Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya, Unió Democràtica de Catalunya (in Catalonia only); Unió Mallorquina (in Majorca only).
•  Galicia (Main article: Galician nationalism)
  • Political party: Bloque Nacionalista Galego (Galician Nationalist Block) (autonomist) (member of the European Free Alliance), NÓS-Unidade Popular (WE-Popular Unity)(independentist), Frente Popular Galego (Galician Popular Front)(independentist), Partido Galeguista (The Galician Party) , Terra Galega Galician Coalition (Centrist nationalist Party)
  • Youth pressure groups: Galiza Nova, AGIR, CAF
  • Militant organization: Resistência Galega
  • Proposed state: Galician Republic
  • Main article: Galician nationalism

•  Andalusia (Main article: Andalusian nationalism)
  • Political parties (autonomist): Partido Andalucista, Partido Socialista Andaluz, Bloque Andaluz de Izquierdas, Partido Comunista del Pueblo Andaluz
  • Political parties (secessionist): Nación Andaluza, Asamblea Nacional de Andalucia
  • Youth movement: Jaleo!!!, Juventudes Andalucistas
  • Proposed state: Andalusia
•  Aragon
  • Political party (autonomist): Chunta Aragonesista (member of the European Free Alliance)
  • Political party (secessionist): Estau Aragonés, Tierra Aragonesa
  • Pressure groups: Puyalón
  • Youth movement: Astral, Chobenalla Aragonesista, A Enrestida
  • Proposed state: Aragón
•  Asturias (Main article: Asturian nationalism)
  • Political parties (autonomist): Partíu Asturianista, URAS
  • Political parties (secessionist): Unidá Nacionalista Asturiana (member of the European Free Alliance), Bloque por Asturies, Andecha Astur
  • Youth movements: Darréu, UNA-Mocedá , Fai!
  • Trade Unions: CSI, SUATEA, Frenti Estudiantil d'Asturies
  • Other pro-independence organizations: Sofitu
  • Proposed state: Socialist Republic of Asturies
  • Proposed flag: Asturina
•  Cantabria
  • Political party: Conceju Nacionaliegu Cántabru
  • Youth movement: Regüelta (Revolt)
  • Trade union: Intersindical Cántabra
  • Proposed state: Cantabria
  • Proposed flag: Lábaro
•  Castile
  • Political parties (autonomist): Tierra Comunera
  • Political parties (secessionist): Izquierda Castellana, Movimiento Popular Castellano,
  • Youth movement: YESCA
  • Proposed state: Castile
  • Proposed flag: Pendón Morado, Pendón Estrellado
  • Main article: Castilian nationalism
•  León
  • Political parties: Unión del Pueblo Leonés (UPL or Leonese People's Union), Partido Regionalista del País Leonés (PREPAL), Unión del Pueblo Salmantino (UPS), Partido Carlista del Reino de León (PC)
  • Proposed state: País Llïonés - Leonese Country (Conceyu Xoven)
  • Proposed autonomous region: Comunidad Autónoma de León - Autonomous Community of León (UPL, PREPAL, UPS, PC)
  • Civil organizations: Ciudadanos del Reino de Leon (CCRRLL), Ciudadanos Zamoranos (CCZZ)
  • Youth movements: Conceyu Xoven (Young Council)
  • Principal Article: Leonese regionalist movement

[edit] Sweden

•  Sami
  • Proposed autonomous region: Sápmi^[5]
•  Scania Political or cultural organisation: Stiftelsen Skånsk Framtid (Scanian Future Foundation) (member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization)^[16]

[edit] Switzerland

•  Geneva "Le Republique du Geneve" or "Free State of Geneva".
  • Pressure Group: Genevan politicians and activists.^{[citation needed]}
•  Jura
  • Political party: Mouvement Indépendantiste Jurassien (Jurassian Independentist Movement), Mouvement Autonomiste Jurassien (Jurassian Autonomist Movement), Groupe Bélier(Youth activists movement),
•  Ticino
  • Political party: Lega dei Ticinesi
  • Pressure groups: Domà Nunch

[edit] Ukraine

•  Crimea (the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization)
•  Carpathian Ruthenia: Congress of Carpathian Ruthenians

[edit] United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies

Secessionist movements

•  Cornwall
  See also: Cornish nationalism
  • Political party: Cornish National Party
  • Militant organization: Cornish National Liberation Army

•  England
  Main article: English independence
  • Political party: England First Party^[17]
  • Pressure groups: English National Liberation Association^[18]

•  Gibraltar
  • Political party: Progressive Democratic Party
  • Pressure groups: Celtic League

•  Guernsey^[19]

•  Isle of Man
  • Pressure groups: Celtic League
  • Political parties: Mec Vannin, Liberal Vannin

• Northern Ireland
  See also: Irish nationalism, Irish Republicanism, and Ulster nationalism
  • Pressure groups: Celtic League
  • Political parties: Sinn Féin, Social Democratic and Labour Party, Republican Sinn Féin, Irish Republican Socialist Party (Irish nationalist)

•  Scotland
  Main article: Scottish independence
  • Political parties: Scottish National Party (member of the European Free Alliance), Scottish Green Party, Scottish Socialist Party, Scottish Democratic Alliance (irridentist in regards to Berwick-upon-Tweed),^[20] Solidarity

•  Wales
  Main article: Welsh independence
  • Political parties: Plaid Cymru (member of the European Free Alliance), Forward Wales, Wales Green Party, Llais Gwynedd, Cymru Annibynnol
  • Pressure groups: Cymuned, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, Celtic League
  • Militant organizations: Free Wales Army, Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru, Meibion Glyndwr

Autonomist movements

•  Cornwall
  See also: Cornish nationalism, Constitutional status of Cornwall, and Cornish Assembly
  • Political parties: Mebyon Kernow - Party for Cornwall (member of the European Free Alliance), Cornish Green Party
  • Pressure groups: Cornish Constitutional Convention, Cornwall 2000, Cornish Solidarity, Revived Cornish Stannary Parliament, Tyr Gwyr Gweryn,^[21]
•  England
  See also: English nationalism
  • Political parties: English Democrats Party, UKIP^[22]
  • Pressure groups: Campaign for an English Parliament
•  Shetland (currently part of Scotland)
  • Crown Dependency of Forvik (Forewick Holm), Udal Law group, Orkney and Shetland Movement^{[23][24][25][26]}
•  Wessex
  • Political parties: Wessex Regionalist Party, officially registered as a political party.^[27]
  • Pressure group: Wessex Constitutional Convention
•  Yorkshire
  • Pressure Group Yorkshire Ridings Society