A quote from Jean Quatremer, the correspondent of the French daily Libération in Brussels, on the Libération blog, 3 September 2007
 
Contrary to what is often said, the possible Flemish independence would not contradict the European principle. […] There is no precedent of a [European] Union member state breaking up into two or more independent states: the separation of Czechoslovakia, the Baltic states or Yugoslavia happened before they joined the Union. The fact that there would be two new states instead of a united Belgium will simply increase the number of member states from 27 to 28… Better still, the Union cannot but support the Flemish claim […] If a member state should decide to leave the Union, not only can no-one can prevent it from doing so, but it is its most absolute right to do so, since Europe is not built on coercion, like an Empire, but on voluntary adhesion. What is true for the Union is also true for the member states.