Spain’s Rajoy sends warning to Scots on EU membership

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy suggested on the 27 November 2013 that an independent Scotland would have to apply to become a member of the EU from the outside, contradicting the official Scottish nationalist position.

Scottish leader Alex Salmond played down the statement, saying the European Union would welcome Scotland with open arms.

'Scotland is a European nation. Resource-rich Scotland would be welcome. Anybody with an ounce of sense knows that,' he said.

Scottish secession would require a re-allocation of voting weights and parliamentary seats in the EU's two lawmaking bodies, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament. It would also be entitled to an EU Commissioner.

BBC News, 28.11.13: Scottish independence: Mariano Rajoy says Scotland would be 'outside EU' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25132026

ESO: Background information: Scotland's future: Your guide to an independent Scotland http://www.europeansources.info/record/scotlands-future-your-guide-to-an-independent-scotland/

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

EUObserver, 28.11.13: Scottish leader hits back at Spain on independence http://euobserver.com/news/122286

ESO: Background information: Proposed date for Scottish independence named http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposed-date-for-scottish-independence-named/

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Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 14.12.13: National identity and party affiliation are set to play a key role in the Scottish referendum, whose result is more uncertain than opinion polls suggest http://bit.ly/IKQvQU

BBC News, 13.12.13: Scottish independence: Scots EU independence plan 'now untenable' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25366706

ESO: Background information: Spain to block Catalonia independence referendum / Catalan party leaders agree self-rule referendum questions http://www.europeansources.info/record/spain-to-block-catalonia-independence-referendum-catalan-party-leaders-agree-self-rule-referendum-questions/

The Guardian, 08.12.13: Independent Scotland would be ejected from EU, says Spanish prime minister http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/08/independent-scotland-would-be-ejected-from-eu-mariano-rajoy

Policy Review, January 2014: Schadenfreude – Would Scottish independence encourage other movements within the EU? http://www.policyreview.eu/schadenfreude-would-scottish-independence-encourage-other-movements-within-the-eu/

Blog: European Movement: Euroblog, 09.01.14: Observer status is redundant. Scotland's future is at the heart of Europe http://ymlp.com/zXnmCN

Catalan News Agency, 09.01.14: French study backs EU membership of independent Catalonia and Scotland http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/french-study-backs-eu-membership-of-independent-catalonia-and-scotland

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 16.01.14: Scotland and Catalonia would face very real challenges in making a seamless transition to EU membership after independence http://bit.ly/1coTsxK

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