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| Scottish independence: SNP Euro meeting call rebuffed | Scottish independence: SNP Euro meeting call rebuffed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The European Commission has rebuffed a Scottish government request for early discussions on the consequences of independence for EU membership. | The European Commission has rebuffed a Scottish government request for early discussions on the consequences of independence for EU membership. |
| It said talks could only take place with an EU member state when there was a was a "precise scenario" to discuss. | It said talks could only take place with an EU member state when there was a was a "precise scenario" to discuss. |
| The comments came in a letter to Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon. | The comments came in a letter to Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon. |
| It also stressed the commission would not comment on the internal organisation of member states. | It also stressed the commission would not comment on the internal organisation of member states. |
| Ms Sturgeon, who wrote to European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic on the issue, said it had shown "neutrality". | Ms Sturgeon, who wrote to European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic on the issue, said it had shown "neutrality". |
| She has also offered to draw up a joint submission with the UK government in an effort to clarify the issue - although that has been rejected by Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, who said it was up to SNP ministers to set out detailed independence plans. | |
| The Scottish government, which is staging an independence referendum in 2014, argues that, in the event of a 'yes' vote, Scotland would remain part of the EU and negotiate its membership terms "from within". | The Scottish government, which is staging an independence referendum in 2014, argues that, in the event of a 'yes' vote, Scotland would remain part of the EU and negotiate its membership terms "from within". |
| Opponents pounced on comments made in December by the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, who said: "If one part of a country - I am not referring now to any specific one - wants to become an independent state, of course as an independent state it has to apply to the European membership according to the rules - that is obvious." | Opponents pounced on comments made in December by the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, who said: "If one part of a country - I am not referring now to any specific one - wants to become an independent state, of course as an independent state it has to apply to the European membership according to the rules - that is obvious." |
| The commission's letter to Ms Sturgeon stated: "The European Commission has not commented on any specific situation in relation to any member state and will continue to refrain from doing so." | The commission's letter to Ms Sturgeon stated: "The European Commission has not commented on any specific situation in relation to any member state and will continue to refrain from doing so." |
| It added that, "the European Commission would only be able to express its opinion on the legal consequences under EU law of a specific situation upon request from a member state detailing a precise scenario," and that, in the absence of such a scenario, Mr Barroso would "not be in a position to usefully discuss this matter further with you". | It added that, "the European Commission would only be able to express its opinion on the legal consequences under EU law of a specific situation upon request from a member state detailing a precise scenario," and that, in the absence of such a scenario, Mr Barroso would "not be in a position to usefully discuss this matter further with you". |
| Commenting on the letter, Ms Sturgeon wrote on her blog: "The commission now maintains that the Barroso comments, widely reported before Christmas, were not actually meant to be specifically about Scotland at all. | Commenting on the letter, Ms Sturgeon wrote on her blog: "The commission now maintains that the Barroso comments, widely reported before Christmas, were not actually meant to be specifically about Scotland at all. |
| "That is helpful and effectively reasserts the commission's previous position of neutrality on this issue." | "That is helpful and effectively reasserts the commission's previous position of neutrality on this issue." |
| The deputy first minister also said it was a "pity" that her request for a meeting was declined, given there had been a number of "significant interventions" in the debate, from figures including Sir David Edward, formally of the Court of Justice, and Prof David Scheffer, former counsel to the US representative to the United Nations. | The deputy first minister also said it was a "pity" that her request for a meeting was declined, given there had been a number of "significant interventions" in the debate, from figures including Sir David Edward, formally of the Court of Justice, and Prof David Scheffer, former counsel to the US representative to the United Nations. |
| Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond claimed David Cameron was "fundamentally confused", after he pledged an in/out referendum if the Conservatives won the election. | Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond claimed David Cameron was "fundamentally confused", after he pledged an in/out referendum if the Conservatives won the election. |
| Mr Salmond said the Prime Minister was trying to appease Eurosceptics in his own party at the same time as depicting himself as a reformer with the interests of the EU at heart. | Mr Salmond said the Prime Minister was trying to appease Eurosceptics in his own party at the same time as depicting himself as a reformer with the interests of the EU at heart. |
| The first minister added: "The Westminster parties have consistently claimed that a referendum on Scotland's independence causes uncertainty. | The first minister added: "The Westminster parties have consistently claimed that a referendum on Scotland's independence causes uncertainty. |
| "It is now clear the persistent undercurrent of Tory Euroscepticism poses the biggest threat to Scotland's position in the EU and has now helped to hole below the waterline the baseless scaremongering of Alistair Darling and the rest of the No campaign." | "It is now clear the persistent undercurrent of Tory Euroscepticism poses the biggest threat to Scotland's position in the EU and has now helped to hole below the waterline the baseless scaremongering of Alistair Darling and the rest of the No campaign." |
| Speaking during question time in the Commons, Mr Cameron said: "The Scottish Nationalists, in my view misguidedly, want to leave the United Kingdom as it is. | Speaking during question time in the Commons, Mr Cameron said: "The Scottish Nationalists, in my view misguidedly, want to leave the United Kingdom as it is. |
| "I will be arguing, and, I think right across the house, will be arguing that Scotland should stay in the United Kingdom. | "I will be arguing, and, I think right across the house, will be arguing that Scotland should stay in the United Kingdom. |
| "What I want to see in Europe is a changed Europe - then we ask the people." | "What I want to see in Europe is a changed Europe - then we ask the people." |