Salmond "We can take Scotland in two weeks"

[TestMangler]

But that's what people have been trying to tell the Yes camp for months now. Spain will make it as hard as posible for Scotland to join the EU in order not to encourage Catalonia. I would expect Belgium to do the same so as not to encourage Flanders. Eventually an Independent Scotland would join the EU, but it certainly won't be at independence.

Can you just point me at the bit of the EU constitution which deals with expelling current members ?

(That was a serious request by the way, rather than an a glib response).

[Old Greg]

It's a picture of an illegal immigrant invading england's green and pleasant land while riding a horse with a cornetto on it's head while throwing packs of skittles using time lapse photography ???

It's an SNP NATO unicorn defecting to UK because it's fed up with a diet of haggis.

[Old Greg]

Can you just point me at the bit of the EU constitution which deals with expelling current members ?

(That was a serious request by the way, rather than an a glib response).

Scotland is not a nation state. It is the UK that is a member. If Scotland secedes, it leaves the UK so is not automatically a member. But... the constitution did not have this in mind, which is why I think it will get sorted out one way or another

[TestMangler]

It's an SNP NATO unicorn defecting to UK because it's fed up with a diet of haggis.

See, yet another made up scare story.

Unicorns are vegetarian.

[jemb]

Can you just point me at the bit of the EU constitution which deals with expelling current members ?

(That was a serious request by the way, rather than an a glib response).

We are not expelled!
Ideally entry would be renegotiated from within using Article 48. That requires unanimity, if that is not forthcoming then article 49 would be required.

When we leave the RUK, we would leave and then re-enter under Article 49. There may be an intervening period where we are a candidate country - who knows.

There is no elegant solution to this.

[TestMangler]

Scotland is not a nation state. It is the UK that is a member. If Scotland secedes, it leaves the UK so is not automatically a member. But... the constitution did not have this in mind, which is why I think it will get sorted out one way or another

And, contrary to how this thread is supposed to work, I agree,

[Batcher]

Too late, Salmond is sending it to fight IS as Scotland's contribution to the NATO effort.

Does NATO know they are fighting IS?

I need my unicorn to get me to the polling station so I'm sure Mr Salmond won't mind waiting

[Old Greg]

But that's what people have been trying to tell the Yes camp for months now. Spain will make it as hard as posible for Scotland to join the EU in order not to encourage Catalonia. I would expect Belgium to do the same so as not to encourage Flanders. Eventually an Independent Scotland would join the EU, but it certainly won't be at independence.

That is absolutely not 'certain'. Is it 'certain' that an accommodation won't be found to allow Scotland in? You talk as much bollocks as Salmond.

In between, free hot and cold running unicorns for all citizens and the end of civilisation, lies the truth. And the truth is that it will probably be fine but there are significant risks.

[TestMangler]

We are not expelled!
Ideally entry would be renegotiated from within using Article 48. That requires unanimity, if that is not forthcoming then article 49 would be required.

When we leave the RUK, we would leave and then re-enter under Article 49. There may be an intervening period where we are a candidate country - who knows.

There is no elegant solution to this.

As this (if it happens) would never have happened before in the EU, you are making a supposition based on the current rules (which everyone agrees were not written with this situation in mind).

[sirja]

Can you just point me at the bit of the EU constitution which deals with expelling current members ?

(That was a serious request by the way, rather than an a glib response).

What part of 'Newly Independent Country' are you having a problem with?

Scotland is not a current member of the EU, the UK is. Scotland will be a newly independent country, and consequently a new member of all international organizations. Are you trying to tell me that Scotland will automatically have a UN veto because the UK has one? It really does seem quite open and shut, new country, new application to join international bodies. You don't automatically inherit all the memberships of the country you've seceded from.
BTW the Spanish are making it quite clear that if you want to be in the EU iScotland will HAVE to use the Euro and they will NOT inherit any of the UK opts outs. New country and all that goes with it.

In a statement, Mr Pitella said: "An independent Scotland would have no automatic right to the various special treatments that the UK has been granted over the last few decades, from the budget rebate to having no obligation to join the euro or participate in the Schengen area of travel without frontier controls. No new member has been accorded such special treatment.”