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Independent Scotland faces snags to join EU
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European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso warned yesterday that it would be “difficult, if not impossible” for an independent Scotland to join the European Union.
Barroso’s blunt statement ramps up the pressure ahead of Scotland’s key referendum on independence from the UK, following London’s warning that it will not be allowed to keep the pound if it votes to split.
“I believe it’s going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible” because the formation of a new member from a member state needs approval from all other EU nations, Barroso told BBC television.
Scots are due to vote on independence on September 18 in a historic referendum that could result in the breaking up of its 307-year union.
“I don’t want to interfere on your referendum here, your democratic discussion here, but of course it will be extremely difficult to get the approval of all the other member states to have a new member coming from one member state,” Barroso said.
“We have seen Spain has been opposing even the recognition of Kosovo. So it is to some extent a similar case because it’s a new country and so I believe it’s going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, a new member state coming out of one of our countries getting the agreement of the others.”
But he added: “It’s for the Scottish people... to decide about the future of Scotland.”
The comments drew a sharp rebuke from Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose Scottish National Party is spearheading the pro-independence campaign.
“This is a preposterous assertion,” Sturgeon said in a statement. “Scotland is already in the EU and has been for 40 years.”
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