Passport to Paisley

[stek]

because they as EU members refused to join when it was formed. If you join the EU now you have to join.

If Scotland become independent they will probably be considered a new entrant to the EU.

SNP believe they will be a 'transfer' not a new signing so their existing conditions should be preserved.

And, if Scotland were allowed to 'transfer', the Catalans and the Basques will want it too rather than the diluted autonomy they have now. Then Bavaria will want it!

[scooterscot]

Then Bavaria will want it!

I understand the rest of Germany want to give Bayern their independence too

[Flashman]

The Europeans don't have border controls they have ID cards instead.

We need a massive IT project to bring that in here to. It's one contracting gravy train that has got away so far!

[Wanderer]

Would be a similar case to the NI / Republic of Ireland border ?

Yep, total non story from the Daily Wail.

So the choices are:

1. Scotland joins Schengen, thus removing border controls for a small number of people arriving from the Schengen area but creating new controls for a large number of arrivals from Ireland and the UK where none currently exist. It would also create a huge, porous land border with England which would need to be policed at huge monetary and economic cost.

2. Scotland joining Schengen forces the UK and Ireland to join Schengen too, thus realising the European dream of free movement. It's possible but unlikely to happen as long as people who read the Daily Wail are able to vote and UK people refuse to carry ID cards like the rest of the Schengen countries do.

3. Scotland continues to be a part of the existing Common Travel Area which costs them nothing and makes the most sense.

Which outcome do we think is most likely? Which one makes the best Daily Wail (non) story?

[Wanderer]

Oh, here we go:

Scotland's Future

There are no circumstances in which the Scottish Government would countenance any measure being taken that jeopardized the ability of citizens across the rest of the UK and Ireland to move freely across our borders as they are presently able to do. It is for this reason that following independence Scotland will remain part of the Common Travel Area (CTA), which dates back to the 1920s.

There are absolutely no grounds to believe that the EU would challenge Scotland remaining part of the CTA rather than joining the Schengen area. The EU has spent all of its 50 or so years of existence seeking to remove borders across the EU. The EU Treaties recognise that membership of the Common Travel Area is not compatible with membership of the Schengen area.

But of course the Wail won't let that spoil their good story complete with vague sources...

[xoggoth]

The £ currency will be replaced by Square Sausage under the new Scottish government.

Thought the new Scottish currency would be The Haggis.

[xoggoth]

Slightly more seriously, it is highly unlikely that the EU will raise any major impediments to Scotland joining the EU.

If not for opposition from some nations they would let in Turkey despite the increasing evidence of a retreat from real democracy. These lunatics would probably let in Somalia if it applied, who cares about practical consequences for existing EU citizens when a wondrous ideal is pursued?

Especially when it lines the pockets of the pursuers.

[eek]

Slightly more seriously, it is highly unlikely that the EU will raise any major impediments to Scotland joining the EU.

If not for opposition from some nations they would let in Turkey despite the increasing evidence of a retreat from real democracy. These lunatics would probably let in Somalia if it applied, who cares about practical consequences for existing EU citizens when a wondrous ideal is pursued?

Especially when it lines the pockets of the pursuers.

What about Spain? They have a veto and don't want their richer parts pulling the same trick leaving them with the poorer bits.

[TykeMerc]

Slightly more seriously, it is highly unlikely that the EU will raise any major impediments to Scotland joining the EU.

If not for opposition from some nations they would let in Turkey despite the increasing evidence of a retreat from real democracy. These lunatics would probably let in Somalia if it applied, who cares about practical consequences for existing EU citizens when a wondrous ideal is pursued?

Especially when it lines the pockets of the pursuers.

True enough, but the Basque and Catalan situations could be a major fly in the ointment and there's probably a few more regions that a few national Governments would be more than a bit concerned about. Precedent is a very dangerous thing, with the way the EU works I think there will be some very worried heads around the table if it looks likely.

Italy and Germany were numerous smaller states/principalities very recently I'm sure there are others like Belgium that could easily split across old nationalistic lines.

[minestrone]

We will stop selling them whisky.

See how long they hold out.