EU chiefs say no to a separate deal for Scots
EUROPEAN Union chiefs have ruled out a separate Brexit deal for Scotland after confirming they will not negotiate with the Scottish Government.
Last night officials in Brussels said ‘negotiations will take place with the UK Government only’ – dealing a blow to Nicola Sturgeon’s attempts to strike a deal to keep Scotland in the single market.
The First Minister has warned Scotland risks being ‘driven off a Brexit cliff edge’ by the Conservative Government and that leaving the EU could cost the country’s economy up to £11.2billion a year.
Since the vote in June Miss Sturgeon and her Government ministers have launched a charm offensive on the EU, meeting a number of officials and diplomats overseas.
They are exploring ways to keep Scotland in the single market including membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA) alongside Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
However, the attempt to win over EU member states has been dealt a number of blows – with officials from Spain and Norway among those saying they could not negotiate with Scotland without the UK.
Yesterday, Miss Sturgeon’s plans were dealt a major knock when the EU confirmed it is not prepared to negotiate with Scotland.
A spokesman for the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, said: ‘Scotwith land is part of the UK and the commission respects the internal constitutional arrangements of the UK.
‘Negotiations will take place with the UK Government only [once the UK sends its Article 50 notification].’
The comments were made as former First Minister Alex Salmond prepares to meet EU president Jean-Claude Juncker next week.
Mr Salmond is the SNP’s international affairs spokesman at Westminster and will travel to Brussels on Thursday and meet Mr Juncker as part of an awards ceremony.
Commenting on the meeting the commission spokesman added: ‘The president’s doors are always open.’
The commission’s comments mean a Brexit deal for Scotland to retain single market access can only go ahead if the UK Government pursues this in its talks with the EU.
Mr Juncker met Miss Sturgeon in the summer and said: ‘Scotland has won the right to be heard in Brussels.’
But Scottish Tory constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins claimed this was further confirmation Scotland will be leaving the EU with the rest of the UK – with only one deal.
He said: ‘It is the United Kingdom that is the member state and it is the United Kingdom government that will negotiate our exit from the EU.
‘Scotland voted decisively in 2014 to stay a part of the UK and it is high time that the
‘Talks will be with UK Government’
SNP and Nicola Sturgeon accepted the result. The First Minister would be far better served working constructively with the UK Government to ensure we get the best Brexit deal.’
Earlier this week the Scottish Daily Mail revealed that a Nationalist MSP admitted Miss Sturgeon is using Brexit to progress her case for independence. Hours after the Brexit vote she claimed a second independence referendum was now ‘highly likely’, and she has since published a draft referendum Bill.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘This simply confirms our position that, once we publish proposals for Scotland in the coming weeks, they can then form part of an agreed UK negotiating position and be taken forward by the UK Government with Brussels as part of their formal Brexit negotiations.
‘The FM spoke to President Juncker in June to explain Scotland’s situation and that as part of our efforts to maintain a relationship with Europe we would explore all options including putting forward proposals to the UK Government that will keep Scotland in the single market.’