De EU mag het belang van de overwinning van de N-VA niet onderschatten.

Sir,

Sunday's historic election result in Belgium which saw the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) emerge as the largest party will be closely watched beyond the borders of Flanders, and of Belgium.

Your coverage of the breakthrough for progressive, democratic nationalism has failed to capture the sense of excitement that many pro-European nationalists across the EU feel at this major step forward.

The European Free Alliance is a group in the European Parliament which includes members from Wales, Scotland, Flanders, Catalonia, Corsica and Latvia who advance the cause of Europe's stateless nations, regions and disadvantaged minorities.

During the many detailed discussions in recent years on the future of the EU itself we have raised the question of what legal procedure will be followed when a constituent part of a current member state becomes independent. Outside applicants to the EU have to meet the Copenhagen Criteria but for nations which are already EU members it is a different scenario. The European Union must address these questions in order to be ready, over time, to welcome new EU member states in their own right evolving from existing member states which become defunct.

The N-VA made clear that they want to see 'evolution, rather than revolution' in the way Belgium is governed. For them the next logical step is the reorganisation of Belgium into a looser - and more effective - confederal arrangement. The constitutional situation will differ from country to country, but the significance of what is now happening in Belgium should not be ignored or underestimated by observers in other parts of the European Union. There are many nations or regions within existing member states pushing for greater autonomy or independence.

The European Union will fail in its democratic duty to its citizens if it does not recognise now the need to adapt to the exciting constitutional changes afoot in Belgium and elsewhere. It will also be missing a tremendous opportunity to reconnect with people following the bruising debate surrounding the Lisbon Treaty.

Yours

Jill Evans MEP (Plaid Cymru)
President of the European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament