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I suspect there would have been no fuss. The UK had the legal right to ask the EU what the status of an independent Scotland would be within the EU. It's my b
by learnstats2 12y ago
I suspect there would have been no fuss.
The UK had the legal right to ask the EU what the status of an independent Scotland would be within the EU.
It's my belief that the EU would not eject 5 million citizens unless they asked to leave.
The UK government did not ask the question. I suggest this is because they have the same belief, and didn't want there to be clarity in the answer.
- vidarh 12y ago"The EU" is not a single entity. While many would not want to eject 5 million citizens, for quite a few EU member states being tough on a newly independent Scotland would be attractive in order to dissuade the independence movements in various parts of their own countries. I don't think they'd refuse Scotland outright. But I do think there'd be a lot of "so you want to remain in the EU? well, what are you going to bring to the table?" discussions, with major pressure for accepting Schengen and accepting the Euro, and otherwise giving up most of the concessions the UK have.
- learnstats2 12y agoThere would be a negotiation (regarding e.g. the UK contribution and rebate), yes. Citizenship and self-determination are absolute fundamentals of the EU. I understand why there is pressure - particularly from Spain - to obfuscate this, but I very much doubt that the EU would be constitutionally able or willing to force a new country to jump through the hoops of rejoining.