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IT COULD BE “impossible” for an independent Scotland to join the EU, the head of the European Commission has warned.
“I believe it’s going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible” because the formation of a new member from a member state needs approval from all other EU nations, Jose Manuel Barroso told BBC television.
Barroso’s blunt statement ramps up the pressure ahead of Scotland’s key referendum on independence from the United Kingdom, following Britain’s warning that it will not be allowed to keep the pound if it votes to break away.
Barroso speaking to the BBC. (Image Credit: The Andrew Marr Show/BBC)
Scots are due to vote on independence on 18 September in a historic referendum that could result in the breaking up of its 300-year union.
“I don’t want to interfere on your referendum here, your democratic discussion here, but of course it will be extremely difficult to get the approval of all the other member states to have a new member coming from one member state,” Barroso said.
“We have seen Spain has been opposing even the recognition of Kosovo, for instance. So it is to some extent a similar case because it’s a new country and so I believe it’s going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, a new member state coming out of one of our countries getting the agreement of the others.”
“Scottish people”
But he added: “It’s for the Scottish people… to decide about the future of Scotland.”
The comments drew a sharp rebuke from Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose Scottish National Party (SNP) is spearheading the pro-independence campaign.
“This is a preposterous assertion, as the ridiculous comparison with Kosovo illustrates,” Sturgeon said in a statement.
Deputy First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. (Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
“Scotland is already in the EU and has been for 40 years.”
“As Mr Barroso rightly says, the question of Scotland’s independent membership of the EU is a matter for the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland and the views of other member states, not the European Commission,” she said.
The fact of the matter is that no member state has said that it would veto Scotland’s continuing membership.
Britain, which is campaigning for a “no” vote in the referendum, has already warned that an independent Scotland would have to leave the pound.
Finance minister George Osborne said on Thursday that there was “no legal reason” why the rest of the United Kingdom would have to share the pound.
All three of Britain’s three main political parties argue that they will not let an independent Scotland retain the pound sterling currency.
The Scottish government has previously said it will seek to negotiate Scotland’s EU membership in the 18 months after the referendum, should Scots vote in favour of leaving the UK.
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Everybody should stay indoors, we must flatten the curve, the next two weeks are vital
@K O: so we can have a “meaningful” Christmas, lol
@Kevvy kerrr: I hope its very cold for Christmas
@K O: are you lot still trying to make the same joke nearly 5 years on?
@K O: less of the sarcasm my friend ,its started already ,big gusts of wind and torrential rain ,and Darrah not supposed to be here till 10pm tomorrow, spose he didn’t get the memo .
@K O: That is a really, Really, REALLY stvp1d comment.
@Gerry Campbell: that’s today’s low pressure, tomorrow’s nights low is Darragh
@Gerry Campbell: Darragh is just being polite, didn’t want to leave you waiting too long, or maybe slipped in his calendar, happens to best of us, mixing up appointments
@Basildon Joe: let’s have another lockdown
The weather’s bound to take a turn for the worse, now that the Greens are gone!
save Palestinian children from the terrorist state of israel
@Tommy445: go over to Palestine and give them a hand lol
@I’m a robot Robot: why the vulgar comments? I am a good Fianna Fail man, it’s thanks to Fianna Fail, that your life is better, Fianna Fail will make a man out of you
@I’m a robot Robot: a very nasty robot aren’t you?
@Fintan Pox: someone needs to put manners on that nutcase. Absolute nutter!
@Basildon Joe: Fianna Fail will
@I’m a robot Robot: what?
@I’m a robot Robot: You have some mouth on you!
The insurgents we are seeing in Syria are Western and Gulf State backed mercenaries….the media like to leave that bit out.
@Dere: their try to inflect democracy on them like they did in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libia
@Dere: have you been over there?
It’s a concern that people may ( understandably ) take weather warnings with a pinch of salt following on from that damp squib ( excuse the pun) two weeks back…a red warning which in reality turned out to be no more than a decent ‘drop o rain’. still, I’d hope everyone heeds these warnings & takes necessary precautions. Stay safe everyone
@Frank Mc Carthy: frankie the wind is non stop..it plays havoc with me Barnet mate. Be lucky
@Frank Mc Carthy: You mean Storm Bert that caused ESB cuts to about 60,000 customers, caused widespread flooding, blocked roads due to landslides in Galway, flight diversions, ferry cancelations and rail disruptions?
@Stanley Marsh: Ah, but it didn’t affect “Frank”, so it is either irrelevant or didn’t happen at all.
Some people cannot do empathy.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: stop with your woke
@Stanley Marsh: unfortunately my ferry sailed that night, travelling on ferries for years and without the worst crossing ever!
@Stanley Marsh:
Calm down, nobody died.
@Regular John: Might that have had anything to do with the weather warnings that were issued?
@Basildon Joe: And don’t go swimming in the sea!
@Regular John: 5 died across the UK but you probably don’t care..
@Frank Mc Carthy:
Hope all the mountaineers,and wave watchers take note.
@Mary.E.: True Mary , vital that everyone gives these warning the respect they deserve, complacency is a danger. Stay safe
@Paul O’Mahoney:
I replied to a comment complaining of road closures and power outages here, the UK wasn’t mentioned. Dry your tears petal, you’ll be ok.
@Paul O’Mahoney: didnt really know them that well soooo.. no
Tired Jim was battling AIDS, the way that Brendan fella treated him on here with harassment and ridicule, is truly appalling, we don’t even know how he is now, I hope he is OK
@Fintan Pox: In other words, you’ve decided to retire one of your many profiles.
@Fintan Pox: he was shagging the monkies was he?
@Basildon Joe: it might have been sharing needles, I do not know the full extent of that gentleman’s condition, he may have been gay, but nobody deserves the relentless harassment by, you know who
@Brendan O’Brien: excuse me?
@Fintan Pox: fully agree. Without doubt brenda was a factor in Jim’s death. Hounded him here on a daily basis the poor sod.
@Basildon Joe: I hope Jim is OK
As a small, offshore island of Europe, we have, surprisingly, produced a Nobel prize-winning poet, playwright, and author. We produce more than our fair share of writers and filmmakers.
How sad that the best we can manage on this forum is:
“batten down the hatches b****es”.
@Nick Vasilakis: are you a we nick? Why is it surprising to you that we are literate?
@Nick Vasilakis: were are actually a large island. The third largest European island
Amazing that Cork, Tipperary, Roscommon and Derry will be mild. Don’t dare cross the borders of these counties into the Orange Warning counties. You could be blown away immediately.
The high winds must be using Google maps.
Watch for falling debris such as cyclists and motorcyclists…..
Batten down the hatches b****es!!
@Damien O’Sullivan: .itch.
@Damien O’Sullivan: Dublin looks to be safe so nothing doing
An Orange warning – is that a warning to the Nationalist that the Loyalists are on the march.
Great time to climb a mountain.
@Dan Murphy: But not to swim in the sea!
Fianna Fail will make a man out of ye, bit of rain and wind, do you think that de Valera wanted us to be Nancy boys?
@Fintan Pox: With his policies he wanted us to live in dire poverty and ignorance.
@Fintan Pox: FF won’t last
There is a vulgar bot in our midst, do not engage
Wind is starting to pickup in Tralee.
@Daniel Skelton: Nothing new there then
Ima cumin for yall!
It’s been Predicted for Years.
The BIG One is a Coming.
Just now Mankind needs a good kick up the Arse!.
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