Rights won by Catalonia could be available to other regions

The statute was passed by 189-154 votes with opposition from the conservative Popular Party and Catalan separatists.

The PP said it threatened Spain, while the Catalan republican left (ERC) said it did not go far enough.

The charter will now pass to the Senate before going to the Catalan parliament and a public vote in the region.

Independence

Correspondents say the progress of this autonomy plan is thought to have influenced the ceasefire announced by the armed Basque separatists Eta.

Supporters see it as evidence of how the constitution can satisfy separatist demands through political negotiation.

Now that the plan been approved, the measures - including more local Catalan control over finances and the judiciary - are technically available to every other Spanish region.

The dialogue with the national government that has allowed the plan to prosper stands in contrast to the long history of violent struggle in the Basque region, says the BBC's Danny Wood.

Key wording

The Eta ceasefire announcement came just days after Spain's constitutional commission approved the use of the word "nation" in the preamble to Catalonia's autonomy document.

The word "nation" is held very dear by separatists all over Spain.

But the Catalan plan also has strong opposition. Detractors say it goes too far and will cause the break-up of the Spanish state.

The PP has already tried to stop the plan by filing a legal suit in Spain's constitutional court.