EU spurns Catalan independence declaration, backs Madrid

The European Union on Friday spurned Catalonia's declaration of independence, voicing staunch support for Madrid in a crisis threatening the stability of a key member of the bloc as Brussels grapples with Brexit.President Donald Tusk said Madrid "remains our only interlocutor" after Catalan lawmakers voted to secede from Spain and appealed for a peaceful resolution to the rapidly escalating standoff.Brussels and EU member states have been steadfast in their backing of Prime Minister Mariano Rajo