Catalonia finds no friends among EU leaders

A Spanish flag and a group of tourists are reflected on a puddle of water in Plaza de Colon (Columbus Square) in Madrid, Spain, October 19, 2017. REUTERS/Susana Vera

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders sought to minimise Spain's crisis with Catalonia on Thursday and avoid encouraging separatists across the bloc, describing Barcelona's secession bid as a domestic issue and declining a mediation role.

Leaders did not hold a discussion of Catalonia's bid to break away from Spain and judged they had nothing to gain by angering Madrid, diplomats said.