MADRID, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Belgium could not give political asylum to a former Catalan leader unless the country starts a judicial procedure denouncing Spain violates the European Union (EU) treaty, a Spanish member of the European Parliament (MEP) told media Tuesday.
Enrique Calvet, the MEP for the Spanish Union Progress and Democracy Party (UPyD), which forms part of the Group of the Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), said asylum is not contemplated between EU member states unless Belgium starts a procedure against Spain.
The procedure is allowed by Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which guarantees the rights and freedoms of all citizens of the European Community.
Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, along with five former ministers of his regional government, is in Belgium, amidst speculation that he could apply for political asylum, local media reported Monday.
The MEP said Belgium would need the support of a third of the current member states in the European Parliament and the European Commission and that it currently fails to get this support.
Calvet added that as the judicial proceedings in Spain advance against Puigdemont and his five former ministers, Spain could also ask for a "European detention order" which would force the Belgian authorities to stop any asylum proceedings against the former Catalan leader.
He added that he has explained all of these issues in a letter to the Belgian Secretary of State for Immigration Theo Francken, who had offered Puigdemont the possibility of asylum this weekend.
Spain's Attorney-General Jose Manuel Maza announced Monday that Puigdemont was being sued because of his unilateral declaration of independence last Friday.
The sacked regional president is being prosecuted for rebellion as well as sedition and misuse of public funds. He could face up to 30 years in prison.
The application for political asylum has not yet been confirmed by local media and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel has not given any comment.
