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| Scottish independence: Swinney says Barroso wrong over new state membership | Scottish independence: Swinney says Barroso wrong over new state membership |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Scottish minister believes the European Commission president was wrong to say a newly independent state would have to reapply for EU membership. | A Scottish minister believes the European Commission president was wrong to say a newly independent state would have to reapply for EU membership. |
| John Swinney made his remarks about Jose Manuel Barroso to members of the Lords Economic Affairs Committee. | John Swinney made his remarks about Jose Manuel Barroso to members of the Lords Economic Affairs Committee. |
| The EC president told the BBC that an independent state would have to reapply for European membership "according to the rules". | The EC president told the BBC that an independent state would have to reapply for European membership "according to the rules". |
| The Scottish government plans to hold an independence referendum in 2014. | The Scottish government plans to hold an independence referendum in 2014. |
| A letter from Mr Barroso to the House of Lords 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 Barroso to the House of Lords 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". |
| Appearing before the Lords on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Swinney said: "There are a variety of expressions of legal opinion, there was one just the other day there which was expressed by the professor of law for the University Glasgow who made the point in a broadcast interview. |
| "Prof Tom Mullin says there is no specific provision in the treaty that expressly deals with the situation of a member state breaking up and both parts wanting to stay in and that confirms the view that I am taking." | |
| The committee's Lord Lipsey said that it was "rather bizarre" that on the one hand there was a "considered letter from president of the EC" and on the other a Scottish government view that did not need to "pay attention to Mr Barroso's advice". | |
| He went on to ask Mr Swinney if his position could be "sustained for a single second". | |
| The Scottish minister replied: "Yes, because I think the point which the committee should be very interested in is the fact there is no foundation in treaty for the comment Mr Barroso has made in that letter." | |
| As Mr Swinney was speaking to the committee, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that a statement would be made to MSPs on Thursday afternoon about an independent Scotland's membership of the European Union. | |
| The Scottish government has also written to the EC calling for "early talks" on the possibility of Scotland becoming independent. | |
| A commission spokesman said it had no comment to make on the letter sent by Ms Sturgeon, but it would reply in due course. | |
| The Scottish government 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". | The Scottish government 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". |
| 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." |