European leaders are urging talks to solve a dispute between Spain's government and the leaders of an independence movement in Catalonia. The northeastern province has long considered a vote on independence from Spain. A statement Monday from the European Commission called on all sides in the dispute to move from confrontation to dialogue. The statement came after a violent crackdown by Spanish police who tried to stop a referendum on independence Sunday in Catalonia. Spain’s government and Constitutional Court had declared the referendum illegal. Nearly 900 people were injured in clashes after Spanish riot police entered voting stations to stop people from voting.