A leading expert has said that an independent Scotland would be “top of the list” to join the European Union – exposing a favoured anti-independence myth as completely hollow.
Barbara Lippert said there would be ‘broad openness’ to an independent Scotland becoming part of the EU, with Brexit being a gamechanger for why many people in Scotland want independence.
She told members of the European Movement that an independent Scotland would have a far better reputation than other nations seeking to join the EU and would be top of the list to join the bloc alongside Iceland.
She went on to say that an independent Scotland would ‘look like a bright spot’ in terms of entry criteria.
Commenting, SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown MSP said:
“Scotland has been dragged out of the European Union against our will, but it is extremely encouraging that our European friends and neighbours have not forgotten about us.
“Our ambition to re-join the European Union demonstrates what an independent Scotland would look like as we reach out to the world – while Westminster isolates itself.
“People in Scotland have the right to choose their own future and escape the chaos and damage of Boris Johnson’s Brexit and from a Tory government we didn’t elect.
“As an independent member of the EU we will be an equal partner and able to take advantage of the huge opportunities of the European Single Market which is seven times the size of the UK.”
