The Catalan parliament has voted to formally begin the process of breaking away from Spain, deepening its standoff with the central government in Madrid as the region begins one of the most decisive weeks to date in its push for independence.

Separatist MPs used their majority to pass legislation pledging a "disconnection from the Spanish state" in favour of the "beginning of the process toward the creation of an independent Catalan state in the form of a republic".

The vote passed by 72 to 63, backed by MPs from the pro-independence Together for Yes coalition and the smaller, far-left Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP). It aims to pave the way for the region to declare independence as early as 2017.

The legislation calls for further laws to facilitate the creation of an independent social security system and tax authority within the next 30 days, and specifies that the regional parliament will no longer be bound to decisions made by institutions of the Spanish state, including the constitutional court.