News In Focus

Doubts aired over independent Scotland's place in EU

12 September 2012

Questions have been raised by a European Union official over the right of a newly independent Scotland to remain in the EU.

But Olivier Bailly, a spokesman for the European Commission, later said there were several theoretical possibilities in international law, after earlier suggesting that a newly independent state would have to apply to join the EU.

Mr Bailly had been answering questions on Catalonia, where there is also an independence movement, and said his comments did not indicate any general view held by the Commission.

The Scottish Government believes that Scotland would remain in the EU because it would take on the same obligations and treaties that are already in existence.