This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28311938
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Scottish independence: Jean-Claude Juncker 'not referring to Scotland' | Scottish independence: Jean-Claude Juncker 'not referring to Scotland' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| New European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker was not referring to Scotland when he said there would be no new members of the EU in the next five years, BBC Scotland has learned. | New European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker was not referring to Scotland when he said there would be no new members of the EU in the next five years, BBC Scotland has learned. |
| Opponents of Scottish independence had seized on his remarks to the European Parliament to back their campaign. | Opponents of Scottish independence had seized on his remarks to the European Parliament to back their campaign. |
| They said it proved that, if Scotland were to vote to leave the UK, it would not get back into the EU before 2019. | They said it proved that, if Scotland were to vote to leave the UK, it would not get back into the EU before 2019. |
| But a spokeswoman confirmed that he was talking about countries outside the EU. | But a spokeswoman confirmed that he was talking about countries outside the EU. |
| 'Accession criteria' | 'Accession criteria' |
| Speaking ahead of a vote that confirmed him as the European Commission's new president, Mr Juncker argued that, because the EU had rapidly expanded to 28 members, there needed to be "a break from enlargement". | Speaking ahead of a vote that confirmed him as the European Commission's new president, Mr Juncker argued that, because the EU had rapidly expanded to 28 members, there needed to be "a break from enlargement". |
| He told MEPs: "Over the next five years, there won't be any new member states acceding to the European Union. | He told MEPs: "Over the next five years, there won't be any new member states acceding to the European Union. |
| "It's hard to imagine that one of the candidate states with whom we are negotiating will have, in time, met all the accession criteria." | "It's hard to imagine that one of the candidate states with whom we are negotiating will have, in time, met all the accession criteria." |
| Mr Juncker's office confirmed to the BBC that his remarks were referring to countries already in an accession process with the EU and not to a hypothetical case involving Scotland. | Mr Juncker's office confirmed to the BBC that his remarks were referring to countries already in an accession process with the EU and not to a hypothetical case involving Scotland. |
| Albania, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Macedonia are candidate countries for EU membership. | Albania, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Macedonia are candidate countries for EU membership. |
| Why are Articles 48 and 49 important to the EU question? | Why are Articles 48 and 49 important to the EU question? |
| A spokesperson for Jean-Claude Juncker said: "At no point is Scotland mentioned, as this is an entirely separate issue. | |
| "Mr Juncker has made his position on this clear on many an occasion: this is an internal matter of the UK and he will respect the result of the Scottish referendum." | |
| The Better Together campaign had earlier said the comments confirmed that leaving the UK would mean leaving the EU. | The Better Together campaign had earlier said the comments confirmed that leaving the UK would mean leaving the EU. |
| The Scottish government has insisted that a newly independent country could negotiate separate EU membership within 18 months if voters say yes in the referendum in September, as it already has EU membership as part of the UK. | The Scottish government has insisted that a newly independent country could negotiate separate EU membership within 18 months if voters say yes in the referendum in September, as it already has EU membership as part of the UK. |
| However, the UK government has argued that Scotland would have to leave the EU if it gained independence from the UK - then apply to join as an independent state. | However, the UK government has argued that Scotland would have to leave the EU if it gained independence from the UK - then apply to join as an independent state. |
| UK ministers have claimed that EU membership would not be guaranteed and could take several years. | UK ministers have claimed that EU membership would not be guaranteed and could take several years. |
| ANALYSIS: BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor | ANALYSIS: BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor |
| Alex Salmond calculates that the people of Scotland would mostly prefer an absence of Conservative governance and continued membership of the EU. His argument is that both can be obtained via independence. | Alex Salmond calculates that the people of Scotland would mostly prefer an absence of Conservative governance and continued membership of the EU. His argument is that both can be obtained via independence. |
| Naturally, his rivals have a different take although, of course, that take varies according to party. | Naturally, his rivals have a different take although, of course, that take varies according to party. |
| Many, however, have seized upon Mr Juncker's comments today that there should be a pause placed upon enlargement of the EU. | Many, however, have seized upon Mr Juncker's comments today that there should be a pause placed upon enlargement of the EU. |
| This, say Mr Salmond's critics, means that there is a further impediment in the path of an independent Scotland securing membership of the European Union. | This, say Mr Salmond's critics, means that there is a further impediment in the path of an independent Scotland securing membership of the European Union. |
| No, say Mr Salmond's supporters, this applies to entirely new applicant countries. They continue to argue that a distinctive arrangement could be made for the people of Scotland who have been EU citizens for decades via the UK. | No, say Mr Salmond's supporters, this applies to entirely new applicant countries. They continue to argue that a distinctive arrangement could be made for the people of Scotland who have been EU citizens for decades via the UK. |
| A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said Mr Junker was "absolutely not talking about Scotland" and the comments applied only to existing candidate countries applying to join from outside the EU. | A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said Mr Junker was "absolutely not talking about Scotland" and the comments applied only to existing candidate countries applying to join from outside the EU. |
| "We are not one of those accession countries that he is talking about," he said, adding that it was "beyond dispute that we are part of the EU". | "We are not one of those accession countries that he is talking about," he said, adding that it was "beyond dispute that we are part of the EU". |
| Former EU Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, said in February that an independent Scotland's entry to the EU would be "extremely difficult". | |
| 'Jobs at risk' | 'Jobs at risk' |
| Reacting to Mr Juncker's statement to the European Parliament, Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, representing the pro-Union Better Together campaign, had claimed: "It is now clear that, if we leave the UK, we would be leaving the EU. | Reacting to Mr Juncker's statement to the European Parliament, Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, representing the pro-Union Better Together campaign, had claimed: "It is now clear that, if we leave the UK, we would be leaving the EU. |
| "This would put thousands of Scottish jobs at risk and would be massively damaging to our country. | "This would put thousands of Scottish jobs at risk and would be massively damaging to our country. |
| "Two weeks ago, Alex Salmond hailed Mr Juncker as someone he wanted to do business with, but today he will no doubt accuse him of being wrong or of scaremongering. | "Two weeks ago, Alex Salmond hailed Mr Juncker as someone he wanted to do business with, but today he will no doubt accuse him of being wrong or of scaremongering. |
| "This is not good enough. We cannot walk away from all the benefits of EU membership simply so that the SNP can achieve their political ambitions." | "This is not good enough. We cannot walk away from all the benefits of EU membership simply so that the SNP can achieve their political ambitions." |