EU ‘would be stupid’ to stop Scotland rejoining

A senior MEP has said it would be “stupid” if Scotland was not allowed to “swiftly” rejoin as a member state if it voted for independence in the future.

Ska Keller, co-president of the Green bloc of MEPS at the European Parliament, said there was a widespread sympathy in Brussels with Scotland’s position given that a majority of Scots had voted Remain at the 2016 referendum.

Ms Keller, who served in regional German government before being elected to Brussels, was speaking as a guest of the Scottish Greens in Glasgow today.

She added that Scotland also meets the criteria to permit re-admission _ rubbishing claims the country’s deficit would hinder accession to the EU.

“This is something that’s being discussed across the European Parliament, of course we have the new EU/ Scotland friendship group that has been established,” she said. “I can’t speak for other groups or parties, but for us Greens it’s a very important thing.

“Obviously it’s up to the people of Scotland to decide on their future.

“The only thing we’re saying is that we would do everything we can to allow for a swift return.

“Scotland fulfils all the normal accession criteria, has all the European rules and regulations, so there is really no need for lengthy discussions and negotiations.

“This is a case of a country wanting to rejoin and I think it would be politically so stupid to then close the doors of that, and I hope that all the member states will see that and I’m also quite confident that they will see that.”

She maintained Scotland would be able to get back into the EU despite its current seven per cent deficit, adding: “There are so many countries who have so much of a deficit who are inside and that’s not a problem.”

Ms Keller said there is “a lot of sympathy” among European countries for Scotland.