Scottish independence: Alex Salmond outlines EU potential

Preview and reports of a speech given by the First Minister of Scotland, Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP at the College of Europe, Bruges on the 28 April 2014. The First Minister delivered a keynote speech on EU-Scotland relations and discussed the economic and political value of European integration.

Prior to the First Minister's speech, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague pressed Mr Salmond to confirm whether his bid to quickly join the EU by 'common accord' was supported by any EU member state.

An independent Scotland would be an 'enthusiastic, engaged and committed contributor to European progress', First Minister Alex Salmond said. A possible in/out UK referendum on the EU presented a 'real risk' to Scotland's place in Europe.

ESO: Background information: EU membership for independent Scotland ‘difficult’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-membership-for-independent-scotland-difficult/

ESO: Background information: The Scottish Government’s proposals for an independent Scotland: membership of the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-scottish-governments-proposals-for-an-independent-scotland-membership-of-the-european-union/

United Kingdom, Scotland: The Scottish Government: Scotland in the European Union, November 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/scotland-in-the-european-union/

College of Europe: Events: First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond speaks at the College of Europe on EU-Scotland relations https://www.coleurope.eu/events/first-minister-scotland-alex-salmond-speaks-college-europe-eu-scotland-relations

United Kingdom: GOV.UK: Publications: Research and analysis Scotland analysis: EU and international issues, January 2014 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/scotland-analysis-eu-and-international-issues

College of Europe: Bruges European Economic Policy Briefings, No.30, October 2013: Is Independence Possible in an Interdependent World? Scotland vs. the UK's Participation in the European Economy, https://www.coleurope.eu/system/files_force/research-paper/beep_30.pdf

College of Europe: Bruges European Economic Policy Briefings, No.28, May 2013: Is Withdrawal from the European Union a Manageable Option? A Review of Economic and Legal Complexities https://www.coleurope.eu/system/files_force/research-paper/beep28_0.pdf

EUObserver, 28.04.14: Independent Scotland would be EU 'lynchpin', says Salmond http://euobserver.com/news/123936

BBC News, 28.04.14: Scotland's Alex Salmond woos EU http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27186622

BBC News, 28.04.14: Scottish independence: Scotland 'committed' to EU, says Salmond http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27180301

The Guardian, 28.04.14: Hague urges Salmond to produce 'plan B' for rapid EU membership http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/28/hague-salmond-urge-plan-b-eu-membership

College of Europe: Speech: Scotland’s Place in Europe, April 2014 https://www.coleurope.eu/system/files_force/speech-files/first_minister_speech_-_20140428_-_bruges_speech_final.pdf

Scotland: Government: Newsroom: News, 28.04.14: inShare Scotland will be an equal partner in Europe http://scottishgovernment.presscentre.com/News/Scotland-will-be-an-equal-partner-in-Europe-be1.aspx

ESO: Background information: Independent Catalonia would be left out of the EU, Brussels insists http://www.europeansources.info/record/independent-catalonia-would-be-left-out-of-the-eu-brussels-insists/

EurActiv, 29.04.14: Salmond: Scotland would be a better EU member than the UK http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/salmond-scotland-would-be-better-eu-member-uk-301815

The Guardian, 28.04.14: Alex Salmond insists independent Scotland would remain in EU http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/28/alex-salmond-independent-scotland-remain-european-union

ABC, 29.04.14: Scotland and Catalonia stand alone in Europe (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE142593-Scotland-and-Catalonia-stand-alone-in-Europe

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