Belgian lawyer Christophe Marchand, defence council for Catalan ministers Toni Comín and Meritxell Serret, has a warning for the Spanish state. In an interview with Belgian newspaper Le Soir (in French, paywall) he said: "Contrary to what the Spaniards try to have us believe, German law is even more protective than Belgian law, and stricter in terms of conditions". He goes on to say that "The Spanish justice system has become completely hysterical".
Although he says that the Spanish legal system can be a model for for Belgium, he criticises that "when we get to the unity of Spain", it's a different question. He also accuses the Spanish state of repressing dissidents and minorities.
Marchand is also very critical of his own country, especially its colonial past. "Belgium proclaims itself to be a great defender of human rights hoping to land a seat on the UN Security Council. The problem is that at the same time we have some actions which don't match this rhetoric". In this context he refers to Patrice Lumumba, first Prime Minister of the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was killed over 50 years ago. His death, and the extent of Belgian involvement in it, are still the subject of controversy.