This is a list of currently active separatist movements in Europe. Separatism often refers to full political secession,[1][2][3] though separatist movements may seek nothing more than greater autonomy or to be recognised as a national minority.[4]
What is and is not considered an autonomist or secessionist movement is sometimes contentious. Entries on this list must meet three criteria:
Under each region listed is one or more of the following:
Various ethnic groups in Europe are seeking greater autonomy or independence. In the European Union (EU), several of these groups are members of the European Free Alliance (EFA). In some cases, the group seeks to unify into a different state – in cases where this does not involve the creation of a new state entity, this is considered to be irredentism. Analogous irredentist movements are included in the list of active irredentist movements.
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Territory of the short-lived Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic
![]() Flemish and French Community |
Main article: Partition of Belgium |
Further information: Partition of Belgium |
Flanders or Flemish Community (the latter includes
Brussels-Capital Region)
Main articles: Flemish Movement and Greater Netherlands |
Wallonia or French Community of Belgium (the latter includes
Brussels-Capital Region)
Main articles: Walloon Movement and Rattachism |
Main article: Partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Main article: Proposed secession of Republika Srpska |
Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia
Main article: Croat entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Main article: Istrianism |
Main article: Cyprus dispute |
See also: Turkish invasion of Cyprus |
The northeastern 1/3 territory of island of Cyprus
For movements in Greenland, see List of active separatist movements in North America |
Main article: Faroese independence movement |
Minor Movements
French Basque Country/
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Main articles: Basque nationalism and Basque Country independence |
Historic Brittany, comprising Brittany (administrative region) and
Loire-Atlantique
Main articles: Breton nationalism and Reunification of Brittany |
Main articles: Corsican nationalism and corsican autonomy |
See also: Italian irredentism in Corsica |
Main article: Flemish nationalism |
Northern Catalonia/Pyrénées-Orientales
Main article: Alsace independence movement |
Further information (in French): Nationalisme franc-comtois [fr] |
Main article: Russo-Georgian War |
Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia
Main article: Abkhaz–Georgian conflict |
Territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast
Main article: Ossetian–Georgian conflict |
Main article: Bavarian nationalism |
See also: Macedonian Question |
Further information: Italian unification |
Main article: Friulian Front |
Main article: Lombard nationalism |
Main article: Padanian nationalism |
Main article: Sicilian nationalism |
Main article: South Tyrolean secessionist movement |
Main article: Venetian nationalism |
Main article: Transnistria War |
See also: List of active separatist movements in North America § Netherlands |
See also: Free City of Danzig Government in Exile |
Main article: Székely autonomy movement |
Main articles: Separatism in Russia and Proposed federal subjects of Russia |
See also: List of active separatist movements in Asia § Russia, World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples, Imam Shamil Battalion, and Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum |
Republic of Kalmykia[187][188][189]
Main article: Ukrainian resistance in Russian-occupied Ukraine |
Republic of Crimea and
Sevastopol
Donetsk People's Republic,
Luhansk People's Republic (Annexed by Russia in 2022)
Zaporozhye Oblast,
Kherson Oblast,
Russian-occupied Kharkiv Oblast,[204][205][206]
Image Note: Republic of Vojvodina within federalized Serbia, proposed by the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina in 1999 – the map also includes an autonomous Sandžak, Kosovo and the metropolitan area of Belgrade as a distinctive administrative unit as well
Further information: Community of Serb Municipalities and International recognition of Kosovo |
Southern Slovakia:
Further information: National and regional identity in Spain |
See also: List of active separatist movements in Africa § Spain |
Basque Country (autonomous community) and
Navarre
Main articles: Basque nationalism and Basque independence |
Main articles: Catalan nationalism; Catalan independence; Catalan independence referendum, 2017; and Catalan declaration of independence |
Main articles: Galicianism, Galician nationalism, and Galician independence |
Main articles: Valencianism, Valencian nationalism, and Catalan nationalism |
Main article: Andalusian nationalism |
Main article: Languages of Switzerland |
Jura region
See also: Jura separatism |
Main articles: Russo-Ukrainian War and 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine |
Autonomous Republic of Crimea and
Sevastopol
Main article: Political status of Crimea |
Donetsk Oblast,
Luhansk Oblast
Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast,
Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast,
Russian-occupied Kharkiv Oblast[230]
Main articles: Regionalism in Ukraine and Rusyns § Autonomist and separatist movement |
Carpathian Ruthenia[232][233][234][235]
Main articles: Separatism in the United Kingdom, Federalism in the United Kingdom, Countries of the United Kingdom, and Potential breakup of the United Kingdom |
See also: Devolution in the United Kingdom and List of active separatist movements in Africa § United Kingdom |
Main article: English independence |
See also: English nationalism, English independence, and Devolved English parliament |
Main article: Ulster nationalism |
See also: Irish nationalism, Irish republicanism, United Ireland, Ulster Independence Movement, The Troubles, and Dissident Irish Republican campaign |
See also: Scottish nationalism, Scottish independence, Scottish independence referendum 2014, Proposed second Scottish independence referendum, and Devolution in Scotland |
See also: Welsh nationalism and Welsh independence |
See also: Cornish nationalism, Cornish devolution, Constitutional status of Cornwall, and Cornish Assembly |
See also: Devolution to the North of England and North–South divide in the United Kingdom |
Main article: London independence |
Cynon Valley[dubious – discuss]
Main article: Manx nationalism |