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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Scottish referendum: EC urged to hold 'early talks' on independence | Scottish referendum: EC urged to hold 'early talks' on independence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Scottish government has written to the European Commission calling for "early talks" on the possibility of Scotland becoming independent. | The Scottish government has written to the European Commission calling for "early talks" on the possibility of Scotland becoming independent. |
| The move comes in the wake of the EC president, Jose Manuel Barroso, saying a newly independent country would have to reapply to join the EU. | The move comes in the wake of the EC president, Jose Manuel Barroso, saying a newly independent country would have to reapply to join the EU. |
| A commission spokesman said it had no comment to make on the letter sent by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. | |
| The Scottish government plans to hold an independence referendum in 2014. | The Scottish government plans to hold an independence referendum in 2014. |
| It has always maintained that, in the event of a "yes" vote, Scotland would "quite clearly" remain part of the European Union and negotiations would take place "from within that context". | It has always maintained that, in the event of a "yes" vote, Scotland would "quite clearly" remain part of the European Union and negotiations would take place "from within that context". |
| Responding to Mr Barroso's intervention - described by Prime Minister David Cameron as "significant" - Ms Sturgeon said the SNP government did not agree that an independent Scotland would have to reapply for European Union membership. | Responding to Mr Barroso's intervention - described by Prime Minister David Cameron as "significant" - Ms Sturgeon said the SNP government did not agree that an independent Scotland would have to reapply for European Union membership. |
| She said early talks were now being sought with the European Commission to discuss the specific process of Scotland becoming independent. | She said early talks were now being sought with the European Commission to discuss the specific process of Scotland becoming independent. |
| The EC confirmed that the letter had been received. A spokesman added that it had no comment to make at the moment, but a reply would be sent in due course. | |
| Legal clarity | Legal clarity |
| A letter from Mr Barosso to the House of Lords economic committee, which is examining the independence question, also confirmed his position that a new independent state would "become a third country with respect to the EU". | A letter from Mr Barosso to the House of Lords economic committee, which is examining the independence question, also confirmed his position that a new independent state would "become a third country with respect to the EU". |
| The president, in an interview with the BBC's Hardtalk programme, said the position was set out in clear legal terms. | The president, in an interview with the BBC's Hardtalk programme, said the position was set out in clear legal terms. |
| He explained: "I did not comment on specific situations of member states because I very much respect that it is their right, their sovereign right to decide about their organisation. | He explained: "I did not comment on specific situations of member states because I very much respect that it is their right, their sovereign right to decide about their organisation. |
| "What I said, and it is our doctrine and it is clear since 2004 in legal terms, if one part of a country - I am not referring now to any specific one - wants to become an independent state, of course as an independent state it has to apply to the European membership according to the rules - that is obvious." | "What I said, and it is our doctrine and it is clear since 2004 in legal terms, if one part of a country - I am not referring now to any specific one - wants to become an independent state, of course as an independent state it has to apply to the European membership according to the rules - that is obvious." |
| Meanwhile, Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney is expected to be asked about an independent Scotland's place in the EU when he appears before the Lords Economic Affairs Committee later. | |
| He is also expected to answer questions about defence jobs and how the SNP expects national debt to be split if the people of Scotland vote for independence. |