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Scottish independence: John Swinney rejects EU reapplication reports Scottish independence: John Swinney rejects EU reapplication reports
(35 minutes later)
 
The Scottish government has insisted an independent Scotland would remain in the EU, despite reports suggesting the country would have to reapply.The Scottish government has insisted an independent Scotland would remain in the EU, despite reports suggesting the country would have to reapply.
Finance Secretary John Swinney told the BBC membership was not in question, but negotiations on detail would be needed.Finance Secretary John Swinney told the BBC membership was not in question, but negotiations on detail would be needed.
He spoke after a report in the Scotsman newspaper said the European Commission had confirmed in a letter that a go-alone Scotland would have to reapply. He spoke after a report in The Scotsman newspaper said the European Commission had confirmed in a letter that a go-alone Scotland would have to reapply.
A referendum on Scottish independence is scheduled for the autumn of 2014.A referendum on Scottish independence is scheduled for the autumn of 2014.
The European Commission has yet to confirm the details of the letter, which is due to be sent to the House of Lords economic affairs sub committee.
Mr Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "When Scotland votes in the referendum in 2014, and assuming there is a yes vote as a result of that referendum, Scotland will still be at that stage a part of the UK, and what we have always accepted is there has to be a negotiation about the details and the terms of Scotland's membership of the EU.
"The EU Commission has not yet replied to the inquiry from the House of Lords - officials say the letter exists but has not been sent."The EU Commission has not yet replied to the inquiry from the House of Lords - officials say the letter exists but has not been sent.
"However, the EU's position is that a nation becoming an independent state would have to re-apply for EU membership."However, the EU's position is that a nation becoming an independent state would have to re-apply for EU membership.
"There would be a negotiation which would only start when it was clear what the relationship was between Scotland and London. It would not be in the words of one official 'a simple cut and paste job.'"There would be a negotiation which would only start when it was clear what the relationship was between Scotland and London. It would not be in the words of one official 'a simple cut and paste job.'
"What is unclear - and the EU admits it would be in unchartered waters - is what would happen to existing arrangements over say fisheries whilst these talks were going on.""What is unclear - and the EU admits it would be in unchartered waters - is what would happen to existing arrangements over say fisheries whilst these talks were going on."
The European Commission has yet to confirm the details of the letter, which is due to be sent to the House of Lords economic affairs sub committee.
Mr Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "When Scotland votes in the referendum in 2014, and assuming there is a yes vote as a result of that referendum, Scotland will still be at that stage a part of the UK, and what we have always accepted is there has to be a negotiation about the details and the terms of Scotland's membership of the EU.
"But crucially that would be taking place at a time when we are still part of the UK, and still part of the EU of which we have been members for 40 years.""But crucially that would be taking place at a time when we are still part of the UK, and still part of the EU of which we have been members for 40 years."
He added that there was an important distinction between Scotland "applying" and "negotiating".He added that there was an important distinction between Scotland "applying" and "negotiating".
Mr Swinney said it was clear that after becoming independent the country would be negotiating "from within".Mr Swinney said it was clear that after becoming independent the country would be negotiating "from within".
The minister believed that any talks on agreeing new terms of membership would be completed by 2016.The minister believed that any talks on agreeing new terms of membership would be completed by 2016.
Lords on the economic sub committee are currently looking at the issue of independence and what impact it would have on Scotland and the rest of the UK.Lords on the economic sub committee are currently looking at the issue of independence and what impact it would have on Scotland and the rest of the UK.
They wrote to the European Commission asking for guidance on what would happen to an independent Scotland's future membership of the EU.They wrote to the European Commission asking for guidance on what would happen to an independent Scotland's future membership of the EU.
The BBC's Europe editor Gavin Hewitt said the commission had not yet replied to the Lords' inquiry, but officials confirmed the letter existed.The BBC's Europe editor Gavin Hewitt said the commission had not yet replied to the Lords' inquiry, but officials confirmed the letter existed.
He added: "The EU's position is that a nation becoming an independent state would have to re-apply for EU membership.He added: "The EU's position is that a nation becoming an independent state would have to re-apply for EU membership.
"There would be a negotiation which would only start when it was clear what the relationship was between Scotland and London.""There would be a negotiation which would only start when it was clear what the relationship was between Scotland and London."
Labour peer Lord George Foulkes, who is on the committee, told the Scotsman: "I understand [the president of the European Commission] Jose Manuel Barosso will be replying to the economic affairs sub committee on the economic impact of separation and we have had evidence here in Brussels confirming Scotland would have to seek accession to the European Union." The Scotsman writes that it has seen the letter and it says: "If a territory of a member state ceases to be part of that member state because it has become an independent state then the treaties would cease to apply to that territory."
It adds that the correspondence goes on to say that on independence, Scotland would become "a third country" - a technical term for a European state outside the EU which would need to apply to join the 27-member organisation.
Labour peer Lord George Foulkes, who is on the committee, told the newspaper: "I understand [the president of the European Commission] Jose Manuel Barosso will be replying to the economic affairs sub committee on the economic impact of separation and we have had evidence here in Brussels confirming Scotland would have to seek accession to the European Union."