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Independant Scotland Will Be Excluded From Eu Shock

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jomifl | 10:05 Sun 16th Feb 2014 | Politics
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Manuel Barroso stated a few mins. ago that if Scotland became independant it would not be allowed into the EU because of the internal political implications for some member nations. Has wee 'eck miscalculated ....again?
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If the people in Scotland are to be given a referendum to leave the Union or not, shouldn't they also have a referendum on whether they want be in the EU.
what "internal political implications"?
I'd say that was nonsense, jonifl, unless he's talking about a resurrection of the Auld Alliance with France to further alienate England.
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The internal political implicatioons are thus. Spain would see allowing Scotland to join the EU after leaving the UK as a precedent for Spanish regions such as the Basque country and Calalunya to do the same. Since Spain doesn't want these regions to gain independance it wants to create as many disincentives as possible so will not agree to a devolved Scotland joining the EU. As there has to be agreement by all members for a new state to join the EU, it just won't happen. That is realpolitik.
An answer to woofgang's question might help everyone contribute to this thread.
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There y'go wally.
Scotland is already devolved.

Any country satisfying the Copenhagen criteria can apply to join the EU. It is then up to the Commission to approve or reject that application.
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Jeffa, read my earler post. I didn't make it up, it is what the president of the EU said live on TV.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26215963

Read the whole thing, especially this:

"The Spanish Foreign Minister said if there is an agreed process within the United Kingdom by which Scotland becomes an independent country then Spain has nothing to say about the whole issue.

"That indicates to me quite clearly that the Spanish government will have no stance to take on the question of Scottish membership of the European Union."
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/European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said it would be "extremely difficult, if not impossible" for an independent Scotland to join the European Union. /

Did you miss that bit Jeffa?
As things stand, an independent Scotland would not be part of the EU and would need to re-apply to join. Barroso said that it would not be a foregone conclusion that they would be allowed back in.

John Swinney on The World At One called Barroso's comments "preposterous". He ought really to address the issue of why Barroso would make such comments, especially if they are so obviously "preposterous".

An opinion on the pound has been given by the people responsible for the pound. An opinion on membership of the EU has been given by the head of the EU Commission.

But as these opinions don't suit the political needs of the SNP, they are simply called "preposterous". What's preposterous is that the idea that these things can all be assumed to fall out in the wash.

> "The Spanish Foreign Minister said if there is an agreed process within the United Kingdom by which Scotland becomes an independent country then Spain has nothing to say about the whole issue.
> "That indicates to me quite clearly that the Spanish government will have no stance to take on the question of Scottish membership of the European Union."

No, sorry, that does not follow. Spain may rightfully have nothing to say about the agreed process within the United Kingdom by which Scotland becomes an independent country. That does not mean that Spain (or any of the other EU member states) would have nothing to say about Scotland joining the EU. They will have a vote on it. The results of that vote cannot be assumed as a foregone conclusion.
No I didn't. He's basing his statement on objection from Spain. Spain have said they could have no objection.
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Jeffa, Spain's statement was only about Scotland becoming independant. It made no mention of EU membership.
Apologies, you're correct.
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Jeffa, if you want a precedent for Spain's approach, it prevented Kosovo gaining eu membership for the same reason as I have mentioned above.
That's because it doesn't recosgnise Kosovo as a sovereign state. Totally different thing...
Spain have got independence movement issues of their own.

Scotland have been a member of the EU for years, yes, as part of the UK, but if they were to become independent it seems obvious to me that they would need to re-apply for membership of the EU on those revised terms.
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Jeffa, /That's because it doesn't recosgnise Kosovo as a sovereign state. Totally different thing... /
Well, actually it is exactly the same thing and is just the first option for preventing a precedent..
There's no doubt that an independent Scotland would need to apply (not RE-apply) for membership of the EU, just as any newly independent state.

Yes, Spain or any other of the 28 current member states could vote against their application, but to suggest that Spain might do so because it wouldn't recognise Scotland as a sovereign state really does seem preposterous.
Ignore Kosovo and the "independent state" issue. Just concentrate on why Barroso would make the comments he did.

Maybe he made them because he believes them to be true!

If that wasn't the reason, I would like to hear an alternative ...

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