25 Aug, 2014 @ 18:02
1 min read

Spain would not welcome an independent Scotland into the EU, insists Rajoy

salmond

PRIME Minister Mariano Rajoy has insisted that he would not accept an independent Scotland into the European Union.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond promised Scottish nationals they would see an easy transition into the EU, but Mariano Rajoy plans to make the process as difficult as possible.

The prime minister added that if any region splits from its country, then ‘it converts itself into a third party outside the EU’.

Spain also received backing from Belgium on this, which also insisted that it would not approve Scotland’s EU application.

This refusal would make Scotland’s economically-uncertain independence all the more risky, as it would be required to implement a new currency and give up all economic support it currently receives from the EU.

The Scottish population will decide on September 18 whether or not they want independence from the rest of Great Britain.

Rajoy’s comments are also noticeably applicable to Catalunya’s bid for independence, to be voted on on November 9.

“It’s very clear to me, as it is for everybody else in the world, that a country that would obtain independence from the EU would remain outside of the EU, and that is good for Scottish citizens to know and for all EU citizens to know,” he added.

Rajoy added that he would expect UK Prime Minister David Cameron to take the same stance on Catalunya if it were to secede.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish deputy first minister, pointed out that the two independence movements should not be treated equally, as the Scottish independence referendum has been approved by the UK.

She noted that Rajoy has previously acknowledged that the two movements are ‘absolutely and totally different’.

Staff Reporter

DO YOU HAVE NEWS FOR US at Spain’s most popular English newspaper - the Olive Press? Contact us now via email: newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 951 273 575. To contact the newsdesk out of regular office hours please call +34 665 798 618.

10 Comments

  1. I will be glad when the 18th is over and done whatever the outcome, if as he says rajoy vetoes Scotland joining the eu, they dont get the £ then god help Scotland if they decide to go and they get president salmond, which is all he wants really.

  2. with more and more powers passing to the EU and a vast EU Civil Service in the future there will be no need for the old Nation States boundaries to be set in stone

    Spain has 29 autonomous regions these could all be administered from the EU with a Commissioner and Spain as a
    Political Entity could be disolved

  3. Will be a shame if the UK splits up like this. There is no reason why Scotland can’t do well as a small independent state like Ireland, Norway, or Belgium. Be ironic though to see Scotland outside the EU, and the England dominated rump still inside.

  4. “Rajoy added he would expect David Cameron to do the same (veto) if Catalonia seceded”. Not a good bet since Rajoy has managed to single handily drag UK-Spanish relations to their lowest ebb since Franco. I don’t Rajoy can count on any goodwill from the UK anymore.

  5. Every body respect the right of Scotland for to derogate the Union Treaty

    The UE is a club,if some one goes out it will be necessary that he ask for permision for to join in the club.

    It can seem not democratic to someone, but these are the rules.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

better Hackbeers photo e
Previous Story

Cyber safety in Cordoba…one beer at a time

wine cellar e
Next Story

Wine aged at home could be a massive waste of money

Latest from Lead

Go toTop

More From The Olive Press