Jose Manuel Barroso said new states would have to apply for EU membership, appearing to contradict Alex Salmond's assertions that an independent Scotland would inherit its share of the UK's membership.

Mr Barroso said he would not discuss Scotland's future within the UK, but added: "I can tell you that to join the European Union, yes we have a procedure. A state has to be a democracy first of all, and that state has to apply to become a member of the European Union and all the other member states have to give their consent."