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Scottish independence: Scotland ‘would be put at the back to the queue to join EU’ says Gordon Brown | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Scotland would find itself behind Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia in the queue to join the EU if it breaks away from the UK, David Cameron claimed yesterday. | Scotland would find itself behind Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia in the queue to join the EU if it breaks away from the UK, David Cameron claimed yesterday. |
He was speaking as a business group warned an independent Scotland would have to wait until 2019 at the earliest to re-enter the EU because several member states would veto an accelerated process. | He was speaking as a business group warned an independent Scotland would have to wait until 2019 at the earliest to re-enter the EU because several member states would veto an accelerated process. |
“They would have to queue up behind other countries – for instance those in the western Balkans that are already on the path towards membership,” the Prime Minister said. | “They would have to queue up behind other countries – for instance those in the western Balkans that are already on the path towards membership,” the Prime Minister said. |
Alex Salmond, the First Minister, has argued that EU membership could be fast-tracked to coincide with its official break from the UK in 2016. But the organisation Business for New Europe says, in a report published today, that the earliest date a separate Scotland could expect to be readmitted is 2019. | Alex Salmond, the First Minister, has argued that EU membership could be fast-tracked to coincide with its official break from the UK in 2016. But the organisation Business for New Europe says, in a report published today, that the earliest date a separate Scotland could expect to be readmitted is 2019. |
A spokesman for Yes Scotland insisted it would remain a “full and valued” part of the EU after a vote for independence. He cited Graham Avery, a senior EU negotiator, who has said the SNP’s timetable is “entirely realistic”. | A spokesman for Yes Scotland insisted it would remain a “full and valued” part of the EU after a vote for independence. He cited Graham Avery, a senior EU negotiator, who has said the SNP’s timetable is “entirely realistic”. |
Meanwhile, the Conservatives yesterday set out plans for Holyrood to be given full control over income tax powers if voters reject independence on 18 September. | Meanwhile, the Conservatives yesterday set out plans for Holyrood to be given full control over income tax powers if voters reject independence on 18 September. |