ALEX Salmond has called on the UK Government to approach Brussels over his plan to fast-track an independent Scotland's membership of the EU.
The First Minister urged UK ministers to work with the Scottish Government to test a new legal proposal, outlined in his independence White Paper, to bypass the EU's usual, lengthy accession procedure.
Officials later confirmed the Scottish Government had no plans to contact the European Commission directly, having been told a year ago that any request for legal advice on an independent Scotland's plans for membership must be submitted via the UK as the existing member state. Detailed plans for fast-track membership only emerged in the White Paper last month.
Mr Salmond said: "Why don't we have a precise legal scenario (from Brussels)? Because the United Kingdom Government refuse to go to the Commission with the precise legal scenario."
The UK Government has declined previous requests to approach Brussels.
Opponents claimed Mr Salmond was hiding behind the UK decision as he feared the European Commission would confirm an independent Scotland would have to apply from scratch.
Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson said it was "extraordinary" the First Minister had not attempted to contact Brussels direct.
Earlier she was rebuked by Holyrood Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick for branding him "the Pinocchio of Scottish Politics" during heated clashes on the EU at First Minister's Questions.
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