NICOLA Sturgeon will today demand unprecedented influence over UK foreign policy when she calls for a say in David Cameron's renegotiation of Britain's EU membership.
The First Minister will accuse the Prime Minister's of jeopardising Scotland's place in the EU as he seeks changes Britain's relationship with the 28 state bloc ahead of an in/out referendum.
She will tell leaders gathered in Dublin for today's British Irish Council summit that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should all have say in the PM's approach.
Mr Cameron's diplomatic efforts will continue today when he attends an East European summit and holds talks with his Czech and Slovak counterparts.
Yesterday he was warned by EU President Martin Schulz that compromise would be required if his reform plans were to succeed.
Mr Cameron is trying to meet the leaders of all the EU states, and senior officials, to set out his intentions before they gather for next month's European Council meeting.
The changes he seeks include restrictions on welfare entitlements for migrants, greater powers for national parliaments and an opt-out from the principle of "ever closer union".
Speaking ahead of today's Dublin summit, Ms Sturgeon said: "The EU referendum will see a decision that will affect every part of these islands and the UK Government cannot ignore the devolved administrations when it comes to its negotiating stance.
"The Prime Minister has made clear he is intent on securing a significant renegotiation of the UK's terms of European membership, and he is already conducting negotiations which he says may require treaty change.
"The whole process jeopardises our place in Europe, and all the many benefits which flow from that, which is why the Scottish Government was not in favour of this in-out referendum.
"But now that it is taking place, it is absolutely essential that Scotland's voice, and those of the other devolved administrations, is heard to ensure our interests are acknowledged - we cannot be kept in the dark."
She will call for a specific forum to be identified where the UK's devolved nations would have "direct input to the negotiations".
Sources suggested the existing system of cross-border Joint Ministerial Committees (JMCs) could be used to discuss EU policy.
Among those attending the summit will be Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones and Martin McGuiness, the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland.
Ms Sturgeon has spoken of the need for EU reform but her government has yet to set out detailed proposals.
In a speech in Brussels earlier this month she called for more local decision-making on health and social policy, a reference to the Scottish Government's ongoing bid to set a minimum price for alcohol.
The plan has been challenged in the European Court on the grounds it breaches free trade agreements.
She also called for a greater focus on creating an EU-wide energy market.
She added: "The Scottish Government unequivocally supports our membership of the EU.
"At the same time, as I made clear when I visited Brussels recently, I don't believe the EU is perfect, and it can be reformed to work better for its citizens.
"The process currently underway is an opportunity to do that, but it is also vital that the talks being led by David Cameron do not result in trade-offs or deals which threaten the many benefits which the EU delivers to Scotland."
The Scottish Government estimates around 330,000 jobs depend on EU membership.
Nearly half Scotland's exports go to EU countries.
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