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| Scottish independence: Irish minister says EU application 'would take time' | Scottish independence: Irish minister says EU application 'would take time' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ireland's European affairs minister has said an independent Scotland would need to apply to become a member of the European Union. | Ireland's European affairs minister has said an independent Scotland would need to apply to become a member of the European Union. |
| Lucinda Creighton told the BBC an independent Scotland would be welcomed into the EU, but would need to apply and go through a lengthy process. | Lucinda Creighton told the BBC an independent Scotland would be welcomed into the EU, but would need to apply and go through a lengthy process. |
| Her views chime with concerns raised by Scottish Secretary Michael Moore. | Her views chime with concerns raised by Scottish Secretary Michael Moore. |
| But SNP ministers insist if Scotland became independent, its EU position would be negotiated "from within". | But SNP ministers insist if Scotland became independent, its EU position would be negotiated "from within". |
| Ms Creighton's comments came on the day that Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Speeches/Scotland-europe-25-01-2013" >delivered a speech to business people in Dublin in which she said Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge of an EU referendum was putting jobs at risk in Scotland. | |
| The SNP government has said that Scotland, as a small independent country and EU member, could learn from the example of Ireland, which currently holds the EU presidency. | The SNP government has said that Scotland, as a small independent country and EU member, could learn from the example of Ireland, which currently holds the EU presidency. |
| Ms Sturgeon, whose government is staging an independence referendum in autumn 2014, said in her speech that being in the EU had created and protected 64,000 Scottish jobs in the last decade. | Ms Sturgeon, whose government is staging an independence referendum in autumn 2014, said in her speech that being in the EU had created and protected 64,000 Scottish jobs in the last decade. |
| She said: "The Scottish government wants an independent Scotland to be a constructive member of the EU. | |
| "A country that both wants to play its part in Europe and, given the vast resources that we bring to the table, a country that will be welcomed as a continuing member of Europe by our fellow member states." | |
| Asked if an independent Scotland would be welcomed by its EU neighbours, Ms Creighton told BBC Scotland: "Welcome I think, by all means, but obviously there are legal constraints. | Asked if an independent Scotland would be welcomed by its EU neighbours, Ms Creighton told BBC Scotland: "Welcome I think, by all means, but obviously there are legal constraints. |
| Nicola Sturgeon's speech was largely about reassurance. | Nicola Sturgeon's speech was largely about reassurance. |
| Independence, she insisted, would help guarantee jobs and European membership, whereas remaining in the UK would put employment and EU membership at risk. | Independence, she insisted, would help guarantee jobs and European membership, whereas remaining in the UK would put employment and EU membership at risk. |
| She also wanted to reassure European neighbours that an independent Scotland would be a responsible EU citizen. | She also wanted to reassure European neighbours that an independent Scotland would be a responsible EU citizen. |
| As an example she promised no "race to the bottom" when it comes to corporation tax. | As an example she promised no "race to the bottom" when it comes to corporation tax. |
| After speaking to business leaders in Dublin Ms Sturgeon held a meeting with Ireland's European affairs minister. | After speaking to business leaders in Dublin Ms Sturgeon held a meeting with Ireland's European affairs minister. |
| But the deputy first minister won't have been reassured by Lucinda Creighton's views on an independent Scotland's EU membership. | But the deputy first minister won't have been reassured by Lucinda Creighton's views on an independent Scotland's EU membership. |
| Ms Leighton was clear that an independent Scotland would need to apply for EU membership and the negotiations would probably be lengthy. | Ms Leighton was clear that an independent Scotland would need to apply for EU membership and the negotiations would probably be lengthy. |
| Ms Sturgeon accepts that negotiations would be necessary but insists Europe would want Scotland to take its seat at the EU table. | Ms Sturgeon accepts that negotiations would be necessary but insists Europe would want Scotland to take its seat at the EU table. |
| The deputy first minister came here to Ireland hoping to learn from a small independent EU state but leaves with some difficult messages for the Yes campaign. | The deputy first minister came here to Ireland hoping to learn from a small independent EU state but leaves with some difficult messages for the Yes campaign. |
| "If Scotland were to become independent, Scotland would have to apply for membership and that can be a lengthy process, as we see even with the very advanced and well-integrated countries like Iceland, where I've just come from. | "If Scotland were to become independent, Scotland would have to apply for membership and that can be a lengthy process, as we see even with the very advanced and well-integrated countries like Iceland, where I've just come from. |
| "Iceland is obviously a member of Efta (European Free Trade Association) and had been deeply involved in the single market for many years, but still has a task in terms of transforming its legislation and fitting into the European requirements for membership. | "Iceland is obviously a member of Efta (European Free Trade Association) and had been deeply involved in the single market for many years, but still has a task in terms of transforming its legislation and fitting into the European requirements for membership. |
| "And that would be the case, I think, for Scotland as well. It may not take as long, but there would be an application and a negotiation process, as there is for any candidate country." | "And that would be the case, I think, for Scotland as well. It may not take as long, but there would be an application and a negotiation process, as there is for any candidate country." |
| Ms Creighton described the potential Scottish situation as "kind of unprecedented", adding: "I don't see why it would be a terribly complex process, but negotiations for membership are always painstaking and they're always complex, but I don't see why it would be difficult. | Ms Creighton described the potential Scottish situation as "kind of unprecedented", adding: "I don't see why it would be a terribly complex process, but negotiations for membership are always painstaking and they're always complex, but I don't see why it would be difficult. |
| "I think that it would certainly lead to accession at the end of the process. But it would take time." | "I think that it would certainly lead to accession at the end of the process. But it would take time." |
| The Irish minister added: "We're speaking in a hypothetical sense obviously, and it's very much up to the people of Scotland as to what they choose to do between now and when that question might arise." | The Irish minister added: "We're speaking in a hypothetical sense obviously, and it's very much up to the people of Scotland as to what they choose to do between now and when that question might arise." |
| Westminster ministers say there is no guarantee an independent Scotland would remain in the EU, and argue Scotland currently benefits as part of the UK and EU. | Westminster ministers say there is no guarantee an independent Scotland would remain in the EU, and argue Scotland currently benefits as part of the UK and EU. |
| The SNP's opponents seized 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 SNP's opponents seized 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." |
| But Scots ministers have insisted that, in the event of a 'yes' vote in the independence referendum, Scotland would remain part of the EU and negotiate its membership terms from within. | But Scots ministers have insisted that, in the event of a 'yes' vote in the independence referendum, Scotland would remain part of the EU and negotiate its membership terms from within. |