Country ‘is well qualified to join EU’

AN INDEPENDENT Scotland would be “well qualified” for EU membership and the bloc should prepare to welcome the country if a new referendum to leave the UK is called, an influential Brussels think tank has said.

But a briefing paper for the pro-EU European Policy Centre highlighted a series of complications regarding Scotland’s possible accession, including its economic position, opposition from Spain and the prospect of the UK Government blocking another referendum.

The analysis, written by academic and senior thinktank advisor Graham Avery, praised the leadership shown by Nicola Sturgeon in the wake of the Brexit vote and reported that goodwill towards Scotland and an openness to the country gaining independence is increasing on the continent.

It also concluded that since 2014, Scotland’s economy had “not flourished” with lower growth and employment than the rest of the UK, which the country is four times more dependant on for exports than the EU.

Spain, which fears an independent Scotland gaining entry to the EU could bolster its own secessionist movements, is highlighted as a “main obstacle”, but the paper adds: “It is in the material interest of the EU, including Spain, to keep Scotland.”

Speculating about the Scottish Government’s reaction if a second referendum is blocked: “That would leave the option of declaring independence unilaterally, which would weaken its international position.”