Europe has 'no room for other fractures' - Jean-Claude Junker warns

Group of Catalans agitating for the Independence of the Catalan State

The European Union President Jean-Claude Juncker, has warned "there isn't room in Europe for other cracks” after Catalan’s vote to secede from Spain.

Mr. Juncker said the EU wants "to respect the Spanish constitutional and legal order. We are not in favor of letting Europe develop so that tomorrow we'd have 95 member states. Twenty-eight is enough for now."

The bloc will only deal with the central government in Madrid, according to the president of the European Council Donald Tusk.

Greece also expressed concern Saturday about Catalonia's independence bid, saying it supports Spain's territorial integrity.

Dimitris Tzanakopoulos, Greek government spokesman, said "we are particularly concerned about the situation in Spain and repeat that Europe can only go forward united ... unilateral actions cannot be accepted."

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Catalonia woke up today under the direct control of Madrid as the Spanish prime minister took drastic measures to quash secession, deposing the region's leaders and dissolving its parliament.

In a dramatic escalation of a political crisis that has stoked alarm in Europe and sent shockwaves through Spain, Mariano Rajoy also decided to call snap Catalan elections on December 21 to "restore normality" to a region in turmoil.

All eyes this weekend will be on whether Catalonia's separatist executive willingly steps down and independence supporters carry out their threat of peaceful resistance to Madrid's takeover.

In the Spanish capital, protesters hit the streets today, against Catalonia's declaration of independence, which while lacking any legal basis has caused strife in a region deeply divided on whether to split from Spain.

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