Scotland would be ‘back of the queue’ for EU

An independent Scotland would join the queue for EU membership behind formerly war-torn Balkan countries, a Spanish MEP has told an SNP minister.

Esteban González Pons, who leads the Spanish delegation of MEPs in the European Parliament’s largest political grouping, attacked the Scottish Government’s position on Brexit when Fiona Hyslop addressed a committee meeting in Brussels.

He said: “The EU has to find solutions for all their member states, not finding partial solutions. If the UK leaves the single market, then Scotland will also be outside of the single market.

“If once UK leaves (the EU) and then Scotland decides to leave the UK, then you can join the queue after Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia, Turkey, to join the EU. Rules are the rules. We cannot change the rules.”

Conservative MEP Ian Duncan said: “I don’t see how you square this circle. The Scottish Government’s plan requires unanimity in the European Union and right now Spain says no.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Gethins, the SNP’s Europe spokesman, said the party’s MPs will vote against triggering Article 50 and accused the UK Government of “ducking the big questions”.

The North East Fife MP criticised the Prime Minister for basing a policy on “soundbites rather than sound arguments”.

Mr Gethins said: “The UK stands at a historic crossroads that will define our future depending on whether we follow the Tory plans for a hard Brexit or the compromise set out by parties across the UK to maintain close relations with our EU partners.

“We have a choice between progress and prosperity in partnership with Europe or isolationism and economic self-harm that has more in common with Trump’s America.”