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EU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS

Independent Scotland would have to ditch pound and use the euro, says EU chief

European Commission's representative in the UK says if Scotland splits it would not automatically be a member and would have to wait in line like Serbia and Montenegro

SCOTLAND would have to ditch the pound and sign up for the euro if it wants to split from the UK and join the EU, a top Eurocrat said today.

Jacqueline Minor, the European Commission’s UK representative, added an independent Scotland would have to wait in line for membership along with states such as Serbia.

Jacqueline Minor
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Jacqueline Minor is the European Commission's representative in the UKCredit: Alamy

She also poured cold water on claims Scotland would be able to carve out a special deal in Brexit negotiations.

Speaking in Edinburgh, she said: “The negotiations will be with the United Kingdom and that means essentially the Westminster Government.”

The Commission says Scotland would not be able to "inherit" the UK's membership and would be in the same position as Balkan nations that have applied to join - including Serbia, Bosnia Herzogovina, and Montenegro.

Ms Minor said: “Were Scotland to become independent they would join that list.

“It would presumably not be too difficult for Scotland compared to, say, Montenegro.”

Ms Minor noted that as a new member, Scotland would have to commit to eventually joining the single currency.

Nicola Sturgeon's SNP has previously insisted it would keep the pound.

Nicola Strurgeon
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SNP leader Nicola Strurgeon has said an independent Scotland would keep the poundCredit: Getty Images

Labour and the Scottish Conservatives said it was time the SNP was “honest” with voters about how long it may take to become a fully-fledged EU member state.

Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: “This is a senior figure telling the SNP what it needs to hear.

“For all its moaning about Brexit, it knows fine well an independent Scotland would not simply step into the European Union.”

The SNP said it was “quite clear” Ms Minor was saying it wouldn’t be too difficult to Scotland to join the bloc.

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