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Scottish Independence: EC spokesman clarifies new states remark Scottish Independence: EC President Jose Manuel Barroso on new states membership
(about 4 hours later)
A European Commission spokesman has clarified remarks in which he indicated an independent Scotland would not automatically be part of the EU. The European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said all new states have to apply to join the EU and must be accepted by existing members.
Olivier Bailly said a newly independent state would have to apply to join. He was speaking following remarks made by EC spokesman Olivier Bailly who indicated an independent Scotland would not automatically be given entry.
He was answering questions on Catalonia, where large pro-independence demonstrations had been held. Mr Bailly later clarified the comment, saying he had referred to Catalonia and not directly to Scotland.
Mr Bailly has now said that his answer to a specific scenario was not an indication of commission thinking on a possible independent Scotland. A strong independence movement exists in the Spanish region.
On Tuesday, about 1.5 million people took part in Catalonia's independence rally in Barcelona.
It is held annually on 11 September to mark the Siege of Barcelona 300 years ago.
The Scottish government believes that legally an independent Scotland would remain in the EU.The Scottish government believes that legally an independent Scotland would remain in the EU.
Cabinet minister Keith Brown had earlier told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It is simply our position, and it always has been, that Scotland will accede to the EU simply because we take on the same obligations and treaties that we currently have.Cabinet minister Keith Brown had earlier told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It is simply our position, and it always has been, that Scotland will accede to the EU simply because we take on the same obligations and treaties that we currently have.
"There is no process for countries to secede from the EU, that is an established fact and nobody is saying otherwise.""There is no process for countries to secede from the EU, that is an established fact and nobody is saying otherwise."
The clarification from Mr Bailly had been prompted following a question on Tuesday he was asked about the membership status of a possible independent Catalonia - where there is a strong movement for independence from Spain. 'Hypothetical scenario'
The clarification from Mr Bailly was prompted following a news conference in Strasbourg in which he was asked about the membership status of a possible independent Catalonia.
He responded by saying: "There are two different steps, there is a secession process under international law and the request for accession to EU member state under the EU treaties. In the meantime, of course, the new treaty is not part of the EU as he has to make request for accession."He responded by saying: "There are two different steps, there is a secession process under international law and the request for accession to EU member state under the EU treaties. In the meantime, of course, the new treaty is not part of the EU as he has to make request for accession."
However, by Wednesday lunchtime Mr Bailly had clarified his remarks by saying that in a "hypothetical scenario" of a "part of a EU member state" wishing to leave that member state then it is "first and foremost an internal matter within that member state". However, by Wednesday lunchtime Mr Bailly clarified his remarks by saying that in a "hypothetical scenario" of a "part of an EU member state" wishing to leave that member state then it is "first and foremost an internal matter within that member state".
'Not our business' He added: "There are several theoretical scenarios under international law and it's not for the Commission to speculate on which choices would be retained - and in any case it's not our business."
He added: "There are several theoretical scenarios under international law and it's not for the Commission to speculate on which choices would be retained - and in any case it's not our business.
Mr Bailly insisted that the Catalonia issue he had addressed could not be used as an indication of the commission's general view.Mr Bailly insisted that the Catalonia issue he had addressed could not be used as an indication of the commission's general view.
A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond had previously said that in legal and constitutional terms, European experts had confirmed that an independent Scotland would continue in EU membership. On the BBC's World at One programme, Mr Barroso said he was not going to speculate about possible secessions because it was not his job to do so.
In May this year, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told a BBC debate that an independent Scotland would automatically gain EU membership, but did not need to use the euro. However, he made it clear that in order to join the European Union there was a "procedure" to follow.
Mr Barroso explained: "It is a procedure of international law. A state has to be a democracy first of all and that state has to apply to become a member of the European Union and all the other member states have to give their consent.
"A new state, if it wants to join the European Union, has to apply to become a member of the European Union like any state. In fact I see no country leaving and I see many countries wanting to join."
Constitutional experts
A spokesman for the Scottish government said that as far as it was concerned the situation remained that an independent Scotland would remain an integral part of the EU, "as it has been for almost four decades, and by definition Scotland already meets all the criteria of EU membership".
He added: "As many legal and constitutional experts have confirmed, Scotland is part of the territory of the European Union and the people of Scotland are citizens of the EU - there is no provision for either of these circumstances to change upon independence, and the rest of the UK will be exactly the same position.
"We will both be successor states, with exactly the same status within the EU."