Now, post-Brexit, people wonder if Scotland would be accepted back into the EU. This raises the question of a hard border between Scotland and England.
This paper analyses the range of Scotland’s relations with the EU, and the Scottish government’s European strategy. The Scottish government’s European strategy aims to maintain and develop Scotland’s European relations in Brexit environment. And to Focus on issues of common interest, including the climate emergency, wellbeing, innovation and human rights. For now, Scotland’s European relations are rather positive despite the impact of Brexit.
This article looks at myths about Scottish independence.
MYTH 7: Nationalism is by its very nature a bad thing
MYTH 8: An independent Scotland would be last in the queue to join the EU
Myth 9: You can’t hold a referendum without Westminster’s “permission”
Myth 10: Independence for Scotland would abandon the rest of the UK to permanent Tory rule
An independent Scotland within the EU would be part of the EU’s single market: England and Wales would be outside. The border checks may be quite significant. Ireland's experience shows it is clearly possible for a small country to succeed economically in a similar situation to that which would confront an independent Scotland within the EU and establishing a new border.
There are indications that the EU would welcome an application from an independent Scotland. Full membership of the EU may take up to a decade to complete. As a new member state, Scotland would probably have to take on the normal obligations, which may include the use of the Euro. A hard border with England would be the consequence of EU membership. Even a looser relationship, similar to Norway, with the EU would require a customs border with England.
This paper discusses Scotland’s relationship with the EU in the context of two different secession events. The first concerns the question of an independent Scotland’s EU membership in the event of Scotland’s secession from the UK. The second discusses the position of Scotland in the context of a UK in-out referendum on EU membership. This chapter concludes that in neither case should Scotland be forced to leave the EU against its will.