Spain eases opposition to an independent Scotland in EU

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Spain eases opposition to an independent Scotland in EU

By Jesús Aguado

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO: The Union flag,The Scottish Saltire and The European flag fly at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh Scotland, Britain March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

 

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain, at loggerheads with Britain over Gibraltar, appears to be easing its opposition to an independent Scotland in the European Union, saying it would not block such a move at least initially.

 

The Scottish independence drive -- now resuscitated by the prospect of Britain's departure from the EU -- is highly controversial in Spain because of the secessionist movement in Catalonia.

 

As a result, Madrid has long been seen as an obstacle to an independent Scotland joining the EU after Brexit. But its foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, threw that in doubt on Sunday.

 

"Initially, I don't think we would block it," he said in an interview published in El Pais.

 

However, he added Scotland would have to leave the EU with Britain, and "the rest we will see".

 

He also said Spain did not welcome fragmentation of the Europe.

 

"Having said that, if, in application of its laws, the outcome of that process is a division of the United Kingdom, any part of the United Kingdom that becomes a state and wants to join the EU will have to apply. And follow the steps that are stipulated," he said.

 

The comments come after a week in which the issue of Gibraltar, a British oversees territory on Spain's south coast, has stirred tensions between London and Madrid.

 

The EU has said that, following Brexit itself, no future EU-Britain pact that affects Gibraltar can be made without Madrid's approval.

 

Britain has reacted sharply, saying its support for the territory, ceded by Spain in 1713 and which wants to remain British, is "implacable".

 

Dastis refused talk about veto rights when it comes to Gibraltar but said he viewed the EU's stance very positively.

 

"When the United Kingdom leaves the EU, the EU partner is Spain, and in the case of Gibraltar the EU is therefore obliged to take the side of Spain," he said. "I do not think it's necessary to talk about vetoes".

 

SCOTLAND

 

Dastis said that Spain's stance to not bloc attempts by Scotland to join the EU had nothing to do with Catalonia, where a vehemently pro-independence local administration took power in 2015 and with whom tensions are high.

 

"In Scotland there was a referendum in accordance with the laws," he said, referring to the 2104 vote to remain in Britain. "In Spain it can not be in accordance with the Constitution. They (Scotland and Catalonia) are not comparable cases."

 

Catalonia has vowed to hold an official referendum on its potential split from Spain later this year.

 

Dastis said its stance to not bloc attempts by Scotland to join the EU had nothing to do with Catalonia. "In Scotland there was a referendum in accordance with the laws. In Spain it can not be in accordance with the Constitution. They are not comparable cases", Dastis said.

 

Regarding Brexit in general, Dastis said Spain preferred a "soft Brexit" -- one in which Britain remained linked through such things as tech single market -- though he doubted this would be possible.

 

However he said Spain wanted to have a close relationship with Britain.

 

"As close as possible to what we have now. If that is to be defined as Brexit soft I am not uncomfortable with that," he said.

 

(Reporting by Jesús Aguado; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-03

[evadgib]

It is entirely within the grasp of the negotiating team to allow Gibraltar to remain within the EU without compromising it's status as a British Dependant Territory. This would be beneficial to all parties and would safeguard jobs either side of the border too.

[ilostmypassword]

3 minutes ago, evadgib said:

It is entirely within the grasp of the negotiating team to allow Gibraltar to remain within the EU without compromising it's status as a British Dependant Territory. This would be beneficial to all parties and would safeguard jobs either side of the border too.

Unfortunately for the UK, Spain has veto power over any such agreement.

[evadgib]

With 8000+ Spaniards employed there and Spain's own probs re nationalists, along with their  'Gibraltar' on the coast of Morocco this'll likely be more huff than puff.  

 

Edited April 3, 2017 by evadgib

[evadgib]

PM call with Chief Minister of Gibraltar: 2 April 2017

[Basil B]

2 hours ago, evadgib said:

It is entirely within the grasp of the negotiating team to allow Gibraltar to remain within the EU without compromising it's status as a British Dependant Territory. This would be beneficial to all parties and would safeguard jobs either side of the border too.

Would be the perfect solution for NI

[Baerboxer]

The BBC did a good report of this. 

 

Senor Dastis made it very clear that an independent Scotland, should that ever happen, could apply for EU membership like any other prospective member. Their are criteria and rules which must be met and then all 27 member states (or whatever the number is at the time) must all then accept. Any one could in theory accept.

 

Senor Dastis also made it very clear that Scotland would leave when the UK left. Period. He also advised that membership application is not a quick but rather lengthy process.

 

The BBC noted that should Scotland ever leave the UK and apply, it would be very likely that EU members would want something in return for not vetoing their application. Fishing rights and access to fishing grounds was specifically mentioned.

 

The BBC also reported that some SNP doyens were saying that this really means Scotland could be in very fast - but they do like to spin and exaggerate when it suits!

[evadgib]

1 hour ago, Basil B said:

Would be the perfect solution for NI

Border wise yes but their economy is tied to ours whereas Gibraltars isn't.

[7by7]

4 hours ago, Basil B said:

Would be the perfect solution for NI

 Except that Northern Ireland is part of the UK, whereas Gibraltar is a British overseas territory.

 

However, the UK and the RoI form a common travel area, and have done since before both countries joined the EEC, as it was then.

 

The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are also in the CTA, even though neither are EU members.

 

So I can see no reason why the CTA should not continue post Brexit; indeed Theresa May has said maintaining it is a priority.

 

A similar arrangement between Gibraltar and Spain would be the perfect solution for them.

[Basil B]

11 hours ago, evadgib said:

Border wise yes but their economy is tied to ours whereas Gibraltars isn't.

But as I recall the Gibraltar £ was same value as our £.