From regions to states. The European institutions have refused to give their opinion on the possible intention of one or other of the EU regions to become an autonomous state - the most striking cases being those of Catalonia and Scotland. The official silence is logical - the EU is made up of sovereign states and if new states are born and recognised they will have to ask to join the EU if they want to be a member. It is not up to the current institutions to create problems or to give their...