Teh One Who Knocks
08-17-2020, 12:06 PM
By CHARLIE BRADLEY - The Express
https://i.imgur.com/7Nx1GUo.png
NICOLA STURGEON is desperate to take an independent Scotland back into the EU - and a legal expert has told Express.co.uk that the SNP could well get its wish.
Ever since the EU referendum in 2016, the SNP have argued for a second independence vote so that an independent Scotland could apply to return to the EU. Ms Sturgeon has cited the 62 percent vote in favour of Remain in Scotland to bolster the argument. While countries like Spain have shunned Scotland in the past, public law expert Professor Aileen McHarg highlights how it could be easy for an independent Scotland to rejoin now.
She told Express.co.uk: "Any barriers for Scotland in joining the EU are political rather than legal, because any candidate to join the EU has to abide by the terms set.
"It would be fairly easy to meet those terms because Scottish law is currently fully compliant with EU law.
"As time goes on there are likely to become greater divergences, but that would simply mean at the time Scotland wanted to join the EU we'd have to change stuff then."
As Professor McHarg highlights, Ms Sturgeon is trying to guarantee Scotland remains aligned with EU law.
In 2018 there was a row between Holyrood and Westminster over the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill – known simply as the Scottish Continuity Bill.
https://i.imgur.com/RupUgav.png
The bill aimed to empower Scottish ministers to make amendments that would enable Scottish law to be aligned with EU law after the end of the Brexit transition period.
However, while the case was in the Supreme Court the EU Withdrawal Act was enacted drastically changing Holyrood's legislative powers, and scuppering their plans.
In June, a second continuity bill was introduced at Holyrood by Scottish ministers as they continue to fight the issue.
Scotland may have seen push back from the EU in previous years, but the tide appears to have shifted since the UK's Brexit vote.
Former European Council president Donald Tusk said in February that Brussels feels "empathy" towards an independent Scotland joining the EU.
When asked if this would be looked upon favourably, Mr Tusk said there would be enthusiasm but he warned the country would not be automatically accepted.
He said: "Emotionally I have no doubt that everyone will be enthusiastic here in Brussels, and more generally in Europe."
Brussels expert Anthony Salamone wrote a report published this year that claimed Scotland could join within five years of becoming an independent country.
https://i.imgur.com/D4iV6pP.png
It explains: "Scotland was previously part of the European Union for nearly five decades.
"On that basis alone, the Scottish economy is manifestly capable of forming part of the Union economy and responding sufficiently to its associated demands and forces.
"The Republic will therefore be in an extremely strong position to satisfy the economic criteria of the Copenhagen criteria."
But it also adds any membership to the EU is likely to spark a border between England and Scotland.
Mr Salamone says it would be "unfortunate" but also claims it would be "manageable".
https://i.imgur.com/7Nx1GUo.png
NICOLA STURGEON is desperate to take an independent Scotland back into the EU - and a legal expert has told Express.co.uk that the SNP could well get its wish.
Ever since the EU referendum in 2016, the SNP have argued for a second independence vote so that an independent Scotland could apply to return to the EU. Ms Sturgeon has cited the 62 percent vote in favour of Remain in Scotland to bolster the argument. While countries like Spain have shunned Scotland in the past, public law expert Professor Aileen McHarg highlights how it could be easy for an independent Scotland to rejoin now.
She told Express.co.uk: "Any barriers for Scotland in joining the EU are political rather than legal, because any candidate to join the EU has to abide by the terms set.
"It would be fairly easy to meet those terms because Scottish law is currently fully compliant with EU law.
"As time goes on there are likely to become greater divergences, but that would simply mean at the time Scotland wanted to join the EU we'd have to change stuff then."
As Professor McHarg highlights, Ms Sturgeon is trying to guarantee Scotland remains aligned with EU law.
In 2018 there was a row between Holyrood and Westminster over the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill – known simply as the Scottish Continuity Bill.
https://i.imgur.com/RupUgav.png
The bill aimed to empower Scottish ministers to make amendments that would enable Scottish law to be aligned with EU law after the end of the Brexit transition period.
However, while the case was in the Supreme Court the EU Withdrawal Act was enacted drastically changing Holyrood's legislative powers, and scuppering their plans.
In June, a second continuity bill was introduced at Holyrood by Scottish ministers as they continue to fight the issue.
Scotland may have seen push back from the EU in previous years, but the tide appears to have shifted since the UK's Brexit vote.
Former European Council president Donald Tusk said in February that Brussels feels "empathy" towards an independent Scotland joining the EU.
When asked if this would be looked upon favourably, Mr Tusk said there would be enthusiasm but he warned the country would not be automatically accepted.
He said: "Emotionally I have no doubt that everyone will be enthusiastic here in Brussels, and more generally in Europe."
Brussels expert Anthony Salamone wrote a report published this year that claimed Scotland could join within five years of becoming an independent country.
https://i.imgur.com/D4iV6pP.png
It explains: "Scotland was previously part of the European Union for nearly five decades.
"On that basis alone, the Scottish economy is manifestly capable of forming part of the Union economy and responding sufficiently to its associated demands and forces.
"The Republic will therefore be in an extremely strong position to satisfy the economic criteria of the Copenhagen criteria."
But it also adds any membership to the EU is likely to spark a border between England and Scotland.
Mr Salamone says it would be "unfortunate" but also claims it would be "manageable".