Confirmation from senior European politicians that an independent Scotland would not be barred from EU membership has been hailed today as a welcome dose of common sense.

Today’s Herald (Saturday) reveals that former Czech President Vaclav Klaus argued at a conference this week that “it is arrogant of the EU to say Scotland and Catalonia will not be members.”

Meanwhile a senior French Senator Joelle Garriaud-Maylam attacked recent comments my Mr Barroso, saying “the threats formulated by Mr Barroso are inappropriate and the result of Spanish and English pressure. London is increasingly worried. They (the threats) are not credible. If Scotland votes for independence, it will stay in the European Union. It would be in England’s interest.”

Senator Garriaud-Maylam went on to argue that “the realism of these declarations should be questioned, given the practical consequences of suspending EU co-operation, which, in this case, has existed for more than 40 years and which Scotland wishes to retain. It seems reasonable to think most member states will align their position with London, which has already signalled it would respect the results of the referendum. »

Commenting, SNP MSP Christina McKelvie said:

“These welcome comments from senior European politicians are a timely dose of common sense after some of the absurd claims that have been made recently about Scotland’s place in Europe.

“They confirm that senior politicians across Europe simply do not take the No campaign’s claims seriously.

“It is in absolutely no-one’s interests for Scotland to be outside the EU and the Scottish Government has put forward an eminently sensible path for an independent Scotland to smoothly take our own place in the EU.

“Indeed just a few days ago even David Cameron conceded that after a Yes vote, he will push for Scotland to be part of the EU.

“Scotland has been in the EU for the last 40 years, already complies with the terms of membership, and is committed to a positive relationship with the EU as an independent state. It is clear that the only threat to Scotland’s membership of the EU would be a No vote and the increasingly Eurosceptic politics of Westminster – culminating in a possible in/out referendum in 2017. »

The remarks of Vaclav Klaus and Joelle Garriaud-Maylam can be viewed at http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/independence-woul…

David Cameron confirming that he would support an independent Scotland’s membership of the EU can be viewed at http://news.stv.tv/politics/265247-david-cameron-would-support-an-indepe…

Source: SNP