Independent Scotland 'would get Europe fast track'

Political Editor

Thursday 1 November 2012

AN INDEPENDENT Scotland would be fast-tracked into full membership of the European Union after a "simplified procedure" of negotiations, according to a leading expert on European policy.

Custom byline text:

Magnus Gardham Political Editor

Graham Avery, an Oxford academic and senior Brussels policy adviser, said Scots were already EU citizens and "could hardly be asked to leave and then reapply for membership in the same way as the people of a non-member country such as Turkey".

His comments, in a submission to a House of Commons committee in September, were seized on by the pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign after the European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding backed Spanish claims that a newly independent country would have to apply for membership. Comment: Yes Scotland strategist Stephen Noon In his assessment for Westminster's Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Mr Avery said Scotland, following a vote in favour of independence, would negotiate the terms of EU entry while conducting talks with West-minster on leaving the UK. He said the negotiations would last "not more than one or two years" between the referendum and official date on which Scotland became independent. He suggests the talks would include possible membership of euro single currency and Schengen free travel zone, which does not cover the UK, but adds: "With- out embarking here on a discussion of the implications for Scotland of these policies, we may note that although new member states are required to accept them in principle, they do not become members of the eurozone or Schengen immediately on accession, and are not permitted to do so." He argues Scotland could secure a "better deal" from the EU by renegotiating fishing quotas, but adds: "However, the adaptation of the British budgetary rebate could require difficult negotiations between Edinburgh and London as well as with Brussels." Yes Scotland chief Blair Jenkins said: "People in Scotland should be reassured an independent Scotland will remain a member of the European Union. "Not only that, but as Mr Avery points out, there may be opportunities for an independent Scotland, with a full voice and vote in the EU, to emerge with a better deal than is currently available as a member of the UK." Patricia Ferguson, Scottish Labour's constitutional spokeswoman, said: "There are clearly a whole range of weighty and authoritative views about whether an independent Scotland would remain in the EU and it is dishonest of the Yes Scotland campaign to hand-pick the ones that suit their argument. "The people of Scotland have to be a given a definitive guarantee what voting Yes means, for better or worse, but Alex Salmond would rather people just took a leap of faith."

Contextual targeting label:

Local government

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Independent Scotland 'would get Europe fast track'

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED