Complex sentence: EU Commissioner Joaquin Almunia stated in 2013 that Catalonia would have to apply for EU membership in the event of secession from Spain, this is only an opinion, however, as there is no clear EU legislation or precedent for this.
Split into simpler sentences: EU Commissioner Joaquin Almunia confirmed in 2013 that Catalonia would have to apply for EU membership in the event of secession from Spain. This is only an opinion, however, as there is no clear EU legislation or precedent for this.