Catalan crisis cost a billions euros
(VOVWORLD) -Spain's Foreign Minister Luis de Guindos claimed on Monday that the Catalan independence crisis cost Spain "a billion" euros, and fallout from the turmoil continues to hamper growth in the wealthy region.
 Luis de Guindos says slowdown in growth in Catalonia is hampering Spain's economy. File photo: AFP |
De Guindos told the Spain radio that the slowdown in growth in Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of Spain’s GDP, is hampering the Eurozone's fourth largest economy. De Guindos estimated that the crisis could "easily have cost a billion euros" (1.2 billion USD) in the fourth quarter. More than 3,000 companies, including major banks and retail firms, have already moved their legal headquarters from Catalonia. De Guindos blamed a loss of confidence generated by the previous Catalan government.