The European Union would lose jurisdiction over its largest sea area if an independent Scotland was ejected - creating "an important security consideration" for member states, a former European Court judge said.
Experts are divided over whether an independent Scotland would face a seamless continuation of EU membership or be ejected and face lengthy re-entry negotiations.
Sir David Edward, a leading expert, has said Scotland's case for seamless transition would be boosted by the "drastic" consequences of unpicking Scotland's EU rights and reassembling them.
He has challenged the "theory" espoused by European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council president Herman Van Rompuy that Scotland would be a "new state" under EU treaties.
Sir David is making a much-anticipated appearance before Holyrood's European and External Relations Committee today.
Speaking ahead of the committee, he said: "It is useful to begin by considering the legal and practical implications of the Barroso/Van Rompuy theory.
"The theory seems to assume that at the moment of separation or on some other unspecified date the 'separating state', its citizens and its land and sea area would find themselves in some form of legal limbo."
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