AN INDEPENDENT Scotland could expect to be fast-tracked into the EU but would face tough negotiations over its terms of membership, experts have told MSPs.
Constitutional experts considering the possible impact of independence as part of an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) study, backed the SNP's claim that a go-it-alone Scotland could negotiate full EU membership from within the Brussels club.
However, they warned an independent Scotland would face tough negotiations over its budget contribution, farm subsidies and security commitments as other member states "might try to increase the price" of accession.
Professor Michael Keating, director at the ESRC Scottish Centre on Constitutional Change, told Holyrood's European and external affairs committee: "Largely the interests of the rest of the UK would be to make sure that Scotland did not remain outside (the EU) for any period of time.
"None of the member states have threatened to veto.
"Since some of these member states would be very unhappy about Scottish independence, they might be uncooperative and they might try to increase the price.
"It's not a question of vetos, it's a question of the tough negotiations and how strong Scotland's position would be to get the terms it might want."
He warned talks on a range of issues would take longer than the 18-month timetable laid down by the Scottish Government.
MSPs also heard from Professor Stephen Tierney, director of the Edinburgh Centre for Constitutional Law, and Dr Colin Fleming, also from the ESRC Scottish Centre on Constitutional Change. They agreed that an independent Scotland would not be forced to join the euro single currency or become part of the Schengen travel area - a prospect pro-UK campaigners have claimed would lead to border posts between Scotland and England.
They briefed MSPs a week after Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy became the first leader of an EU member state to warn that an independent Scotland would have to apply for membership from scratch, apparently dashing the SNP's hopes of a seamless transition.
SNP MSP Christina McKelvie said: "The fears and scaremongering that the No campaign has been engaging in when it comes to Scotland's place in Europe have been comprehensively debunked by expert evidence today.
"The No campaign's scare stories have been left in tatters."
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