The president of the European Commission has confirmed a separate Scotland would have to apply to become part of the EU. Jose Manuel Barroso said in a televised interview that it was “obvious” any new state would have to reapply for EU membership. His views back up those of numerous experts on the issue, and contradict SNP assertions that Scotland would automatically be an EU member state.
Speaking on BBC’s Hard Talk this morning, Mr Barroso said: “If there is a new state of course that state has to apply for membership and to negotiate the conditions with the other member states.” He went on to say a separate Scotland would “certainly” be a new state, and as such “has to negotiate into the European Union”. On the other hand, he added, the UK without Scotland would be allowed to continue as part of the EU.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP said: “This is a definitive intervention from the President of the European Commission, which Alex Salmond simply cannot ignore. Now we have it straight from the horse’s mouth, the First Minister has to explain why he has been so blasé about such an important matter affecting the future of our country.
One of the SNP’s main planks for separation was that Scotland would simply walk into the EU. But Alex Salmond’s assertions and attempts to hoodwink people have now been laid bare for all to see.
The fact is, Alex Salmond has never even bothered to speak to Europe about this issue, preferring to make it up as he goes along. If Scotland were to separate in 2014, can it afford to wander around in the international wilderness for years on end? This would have major consequences, affecting every fabric of life in Scotland, including our farmers, fishermen and people in financial services.
Scotland benefits from billions of pounds of exports to the rest of the UK and Europe by being part of a free trade area. But being left on the outside of the EU would put all this in jeopardy.
The uncertainty being experienced now because of the referendum would simply intensify, yet the SNP blunders on regardless.
This matters to ordinary Scots as all new member states must sign up to the single currency and can't opt out of the Schengen border arrangements, like the rest of the UK. It also puts in doubt the rebate at a potential cost of many millions of pounds to the Scottish.
If Alex Salmond cannot be trusted to be straight with the people of Scotland on something so fundamental to separation, then why should we believe anything else he says on why Scotland should break away from the family of the UK?"
