Scottish independence worries Spain

Spain could wield veto over Scotland's EU membership

Independence for Scots could embolden separatists in Catalonia and Basque region, Madrid fears

Spain is standing in the way of Scotland's ambitions to become an independent nation within the European Union because of fears that it could spark the break-up of the Spanish state.

Spanish officials have registered concerns with counterparts in the United Kingdom over the Scottish government's independence blueprint, senior Whitehall sources confirmed yesterday.

Spain has indicated it could block an independent Scotland's accession to the European Union, sources said. It has already refused to recognise Kosovo's existence as an independent state. Madrid fears such moves will encourage separatist ambitions in Spanish regions, particularly Catalonia and the Basque region. Spain's refusal to recognise Kosovo has frustrated the former Serbian province's ambitions to enter the union.

The Catalan premier, Artur Mas, last week drew parallels with Scotland as he argued for a new financial deal with Madrid. "Spain refuses to speak publicly about Scotland at this stage," a senior Foreign Office source said yesterday. "But they have been making it clear for a number of years they are apprehensive about the prospect of Scotland becoming independent. The renewed debate about the referendum has started it all again." 

A senior UK minister said: "We understand the Scottish view is they would wish to join the UN but they would not wish to join Nato. They might wish to join the EU, but we fully expect Spain to block it, fearing it might encourage the separatist spirit on their doorstep." 

A Spanish veto would undermine claims an independent Scotland could immediately operate as a viable state. Although Alex Salmond insists Scotland would be able to join the EU following a "yes" vote in a referendum, experts maintain membership would not come automatically. 

An official House of Commons briefing paper on the subject points out decisions on membership must be agreed unanimously by all EU member states. It added: "It is worth considering, if there is a continuing UK, it would have a vote on an independent Scotland's accession application, as would other member states with their own internal regional independence issues, such as Spain." 

Professor Thomas Giegerich, an international law expert at Edinburgh University, said it would be "diplomatically difficult" for Scotland to join the EU after a "yes" vote, with other member states "reluctant" to anger the UK. However, a Scottish National Party spokesman said it was "preposterous" to suggest that Scotland could be excluded from the EU. He said: "Scotland has been an integral part of the EU for almost 40 years. An independent Scotland would be a succession state, not an accession state, and there is no provision for citizens of the EU to be expelled." 

The implications an independence vote could have beyond UK borders emerged as the latest front in a war of attrition between London and Edinburgh. Mr Salmond will begin a counteroffensive this week with the launch of a consultation on an independence referendum. On Tuesday, the First Minister will be in London to promote the idea of a "new union of independent countries". 

Michael Moore, the Secretary of State for Scotland, called on Mr Salmond to use his launch "to address the key issues that currently stand in the way of a referendum". He added: "I hope they will acknowledge the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to hold a legal referendum, and that a Section 30 order devolving that power is the best way to proceed.

Source: The Independent

Vocabulary:

to wield -

to embolden / bold (adj) -

to stand in the way of stg -

to spark (the break-up) -

a counterpart -

a blueprint -

to encourage -

to refuse / refusal (n) -

to draw parallels with -

on your doorstep -

to undermine (claims) -

briefing paper / to brief sb on stg -

to point out -

such as -

reluctant (adj) -

a spokesman -

preposterous (adj) -

the launch of stg -

to call on sb to do stg -

to hold (a referendum, an election) -


Do you think Scotland should break free of the UK or do you think there would be more disadvantages with a split?

Comments

Michael Follon said…
This post is obviously based on the article 'Spain could wield veto over Scotland's EU membership' in todays edition of 'The Independent'. Here is the link to a post on Craig Murray's blog titled 'Anti-Scottish Propaganda' http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2012/01/anti-scottish-propaganda/ about the article.
Anonymous said…
Good night Graham:

I always have thought everything depends of everything. The cell depends or the tissue, this of the organ, this of the system, this of the organism, this of the species, this of the life, this of the Eart, etc. Everything depends of everything and nothing is independent. Now, I am sure absolutely.

I think the people say they are independent because want to have the advantage. The piece of country that wants to be independent is because is richer than the rest. I suppose the Scontland is richer than other parts of the United Kingdom. In Spain, País Vasco and Cataluña vere the regions richest, although now no.

It´s possible the Spanish government worries by that, but the Spanish public opinion has changed and there are too many people that want the independencie of both, principaly the young people.

In the Europe Union the most important country is Germany that is the union of the west Germany and the east Germany and the countries with least power are the small countries, like Portugal, Ireland and Greece.

Anyway, when the Frenche revolution, in 1789, it said freedom, fraternity and equality and nowadays it says freedom, freedom and freedom.

See you soon. José.
Graham said…
José,

Good night? Nooooooooo - you should say "good evening"; "good night" is like saying "goodbye" but when you go to bed.


I HAVE ALWAYS thought everything DEPENDS ON everything. CELLS depend ON TISSUE, WHICH DEPEND ON ORGANS, WHICH DEPENDS ON the system, WHICH DEPENDS ON the organism, WHICH DEPENDS ON the species, WHICH DEPENDS ON life, WHICH DEPENDS ON the Earth, etc. Everything DEPENDS ON everything and nothing is independent. Now, I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE.

I think PEOPLE* say they are independent BECAUSE THEY want to have AN advantage. The piece of country that wants to be independent is BECAUSE IT is richer than the rest. I suppose Scotland is richer than other parts of the United Kingdom. In Spain, País Vasco and Cataluña were THE RICHEST REGIONS, although now THIS ISN'T THE CASE.

It´s possible the Spanish government WORRIES ABOUT IT, but Spanish public opinion has changed and there are too many people that want INDEPENDENCE FROM both, MAINLY YOUNG people.

In the Europe Union the most important country is Germany, WHICH is the union of WEST Germany and EAST Germany and the countries with least power are the small countries, like Portugal, Ireland and Greece.

Anyway, when the French revolution HAPPENED in 1789, THEY said freedom, fraternity and equality and nowadays THEY SAY freedom, freedom and freedom.


I don't think you can compare the case for Scottish independence to the situation in Spain. As far as I know, Catalonia and the Basque Country have never been independent states.

The Scots nationalists claim that oil revenue alone would mean Scotland can be self-sufficient. However compared to much of the Uk, Scotland is "poorer".

The referendum is not until late 2014 so we will hear a lot more about arguements for and against independence.


See you on Tuesday.
Anonymous said…
Thanks very much Graham.

I talked about the independence of countries in generally. I don´t know about your country Scotland because we studied the history about England and I thought Scotland was inside it. I´m sorry. I would like to learn about Scotland, so I´m going to look for internet but you should make up a post about it. I don´t think it was very hard for you, because you don´t have problems to open a page everyday.

See you tomorrow. José.
Graham said…
Oh nooooooo, José! You disappoint me - I thought you were more knowledgeable than that. LOL

The UK is a union like the EU if you like, only much older and with fewer members.

And who knows? It might be HEADING FOR a BREAK UP.


I talked about the independence of countries IN GENERAL. I don´t know about your country Scotland because we studied the HISTORY OF England and I thought Scotland was inside it. I´m sorry. I would like to learn about Scotland, so I´m going to LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON THE internet but you should make up a post about it.


I'll try to create a post sometime to help you learn more about Scottish history. IN THE MEANTIME, you can CHECK OUT the label "Scotland".