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The article deals with Catalonia’s new Statute of autonomy, approved in July 2006. It replaces the 1979 Statute, which gave Catalonia political independence according to the 1978 Spanish constitution and the new territorial structure of the state it outlined. The article first analyses the situation that brought about and justified the reform, as well as the function of Autonomy Statutes in the constitutional system of Autonomies in force in Spain, including the present debate around this decisive issue. It goes on to analyse the main options contained in the new Statute, such as the overprotection of competences, state participation in European affairs, as well as the funding of Autonomy. The article also discusses aspects pertaining to national identity and its symbolic recognition, as well as the regulations governing the new institutions provided for by the new Statute.