The Committee of the Regions (CoR) made it clear that demands for autonomy and independence movements on the part of a region must be seen as internal matters for the member state concerned. In addition, according to the CoR, in the hypothetical situation where such a region would become independent and wants to remain in the EU, it would have to apply to become a member of the EU like any state.

An opinion adopted in plenary session by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) underlines that neither the EU nor the CoR is meant to interfere in questions of internal organisation related to the constitutional arrangements of member states, including developments in the direction of the independence of a region. Therefore, it considers that demands for autonomy and independence movements on the part of a region must be seen as internal matters for the member state concerned.

The opinion also show the CoR members agreement on the view that such a new sovereign state wishing to join the EU should be required to make a formal application to the Council and to follow the accession procedure as laid down in the EU Treaties, in the same way as any other country wishing to become an EU member state.

Moreover, the opinion regrets the growing trend towards centralisation that has been noticeable throughout the EU since the economic and financial situation began to deteriorate. In March 2012, the Committee of the Regions calls for harnessing potential and networking on the issue of water. Drawing on the findings of a recent European Commission's report on public finances in the Economic and Monetary Union, which shows a growing trend towards fiscal decentralisation, the opinion also encourages the member states to replace transfer payments, as far as possible, with own financial resources i.e. independently raised sub-national taxes or charges. The CoR called upon the European Commission to repeat this review of sub-national public finances every year.