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Nicola Sturgeon’s plea to EU leaders meets with sympathy but little hope Nicola Sturgeon’s plea to EU leaders meets with sympathy but little hope
(about 1 hour later)
Nicola Sturgeon has held a series of meetings in Brussels to lobby for Scotland to remain in the European Union despite the UK’s vote to leave, but officials cautioned that Brexit would inevitably force its departure. Nicola Sturgeon’s hopes of gaining support for her bid to keep Scotland in the European Union despite the UK’s vote to leave have been dealt a blow after the Spanish prime minister warned: “If the United Kingdom leaves … Scotland leaves.”
The Scottish first minister met the European parliament president, Martin Schulz, on Wednesday, declaring afterwards: “Scotland is determined to stay in the EU. I don’t underestimate the challenges that lie ahead for us in seeking to find a path.” Speaking in Brussels where the Scottish first minister held a series of meetings to lobby for Scotland, Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European commission, said that although he would gladly hear Sturgeon’s case, he was not in a position to enter into talks on Scotland’s future separately from the UK.
“Scotland won the right to be heard in Brussels,” said Juncker on Wednesday. “So I will listen carefully to what the first minister will tell me but we don’t have the intention, neither Donald [Tusk, president of the European council,] nor myself to interfere in the British process. That is not our job.”
The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, was predictably even stronger in his dismissal of Scottish hopes of avoiding being forced out in a Brexit.
“I want to be very clear: Scotland does not have the competence to negotiate with the European Union. Spain opposes any negotiation by anyone other than the government of United Kingdom,” he told a news conference following a summit of European leaders in Brussels.
“I am extremely against it, the treaties are extremely against it and I believe everyone is extremely against it. If the United Kingdom leaves … Scotland leaves,” he added. Madrid is understood to view the possibility through the prism of its own troubled relationship with the separatist inclinations of Catalonia.
The comments came after Sturgeon met the European parliament president, Martin Schulz, afterwards declaring: “Scotland is determined to stay in the EU. I don’t underestimate the challenges that lie ahead for us in seeking to find a path.”
Schulz said he had “listened and learned”.Schulz said he had “listened and learned”.
But Scotland’s hopes of remaining in the bloc look likely to be crushed. Spain, Belgium and other countries that are worried about separatism would oppose any plan to continue Scotland’s membership, or allow it special status. Other countries are sympathetic to Scotland’s plight, but don’t see any way to bend the rules. But Scotland’s hopes of remaining in the bloc look likely to be crushed. As made clear by Rajoy, Spain, as well as Belgium and other countries that are worried about separatism, would oppose any plan to continue Scotland’s membership, or allow it special status. Other countries are sympathetic to Scotland’s plight, but don’t see any way to bend the rules.
An EU diplomat said it was “out of the question” for Scotland to stay in the EU following Brexit, saying: “We are a union of member states.”An EU diplomat said it was “out of the question” for Scotland to stay in the EU following Brexit, saying: “We are a union of member states.”
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Brussels insiders are also loth to intervene in what they see as a British political problem that the prime minister, David Cameron, did not consider when he called a referendum.Brussels insiders are also loth to intervene in what they see as a British political problem that the prime minister, David Cameron, did not consider when he called a referendum.
“Scotland won the right to be heard in Brussels,” said the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, on Wednesday. “So I will listen carefully to what the first minister will tell me but we don’t have the intention, neither Donald [Tusk] nor myself to interfere in the British process. That is not our job.”
Several EU diplomats have said the only way for Scotland to be part of the EU would be to become an independent country and reapply for membership, a process estimated to take around five to seven years.Several EU diplomats have said the only way for Scotland to be part of the EU would be to become an independent country and reapply for membership, a process estimated to take around five to seven years.
All EU countries have the right to veto new members.All EU countries have the right to veto new members.
Almost two-thirds of Scots voted to remain in last week’s EU referendum, but the country looks set to be forced out because a majority of English want to leave.Almost two-thirds of Scots voted to remain in last week’s EU referendum, but the country looks set to be forced out because a majority of English want to leave.
Sturgeon is due to meet the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, later on Wednesday. Sturgeon is due to meet Juncker later on Wednesday.
The commission will have a bigger role than the parliament in Brexit talks, but is unlikely to be any more helpful in meeting Sturgeon’s hopes. A source close to the president said he would “be in listening mode”. Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, declined to meet Sturgeon, saying “it’s not the right time”. The commission will have a bigger role than the parliament in Brexit talks, but is unlikely to be any more helpful in meeting Sturgeon’s hopes. A source close to the president said he would “be in listening mode”.
Tusk is chairing an unprecedented EU summit in Brussels, bringing together 27 EU leaders, for the first time without the UK. Tusk declined to meet Sturgeon, saying “it’s not the right time”. The European council president is chairing an unprecedented EU summit in Brussels, bringing together 27 EU leaders, for the first time without the UK.
Scotland is not their top priority; the leaders are determined to show the union can survive following the shock of the Brexit vote. “Europeans expect us to do better when it comes to providing security, prosperity and hope for a better future,” states a draft summit communique seen by the Guardian.Scotland is not their top priority; the leaders are determined to show the union can survive following the shock of the Brexit vote. “Europeans expect us to do better when it comes to providing security, prosperity and hope for a better future,” states a draft summit communique seen by the Guardian.
Arriving at the meeting, Luxembourg’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel, reflected the tone of the day, saying: “We have more need than ever for a united union rather than a disunited kingdom.”Arriving at the meeting, Luxembourg’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel, reflected the tone of the day, saying: “We have more need than ever for a united union rather than a disunited kingdom.”
EU leaders reacted frostily to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, but an application to rejoin after Brexit has received more sympathy.EU leaders reacted frostily to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, but an application to rejoin after Brexit has received more sympathy.
The SNP politician Alyn Smith has appealed to European colleagues to help Scotland, calling for cool heads and warm hearts. In a fervent address to the European parliament on Tuesday, he said: “Please remember this. Scotland did not let you down. Please I beg you … do not let Scotland down now.”The SNP politician Alyn Smith has appealed to European colleagues to help Scotland, calling for cool heads and warm hearts. In a fervent address to the European parliament on Tuesday, he said: “Please remember this. Scotland did not let you down. Please I beg you … do not let Scotland down now.”