MEP claims Scotland can’t be thrown out of EU

An independent Scotland could not be “thrown outside” the European Union, according to a senior Lib Dem MEP.

Sir Graham Watson has claimed it’d be politically unacceptable for Scotland, as a territory which is already part of the EU, to have to join the giant trading alliance from scratch.

The Scots-born MEP is the first senior pro-Union figure to speak against the UK Government’s position that an independent Scotland would have to reapply to join the EU in the event of a breakaway.

The SNP insists an independent Scotland would seek to negotiate continued membership in the event of a Yes vote, without the need for a formal application.

But a string of European politicians, including Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, have insisted a new application would be necessary.

Speaking in a Spanish radio interview, Sir Graham who is president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party was asked about the implications of incorporating a newly independent Scotland into the EU.

He said: “Some say that Scotland will not become a member of the EU, some others say that Scotland will become a new member and some others say that Scotland will have to re-apply for membership.

“You can debate about the legal aspects in many different ways but politically, you cannot throw outside the EU a territory that is already part of the EU.”

SNP European election candidate Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said: “This is a serious contribution from the president of the Liberal Democrat alliance in the European Parliament, which discredits No campaign scaremongering about an independent Scotland’s position as part of the EU.”

The development comes as EU officials have admitted there is no documentation to support the view of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that it would be “difficult, if not impossible” for an independent Scotland to get other members to approve its bid to join the EU.

An FoI request has revealed the EU has not carried out any analysis on the issue of a member state being split into two parts.

The SNP has long insisted EU membership will be smooth, allowing Scotland to retain opt-outs on policies such as border controls.