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Scottish independence: Report highlights EU membership facts

Scottish Secretary comments on expert report that says independent Scotland would face lengthy wait for EU membership.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
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An independent Scotland would not become an EU member until 2019 at the earliest, according to an expert report published today.

The concludes that this would be the 바카라 사이트˜earliest conceivable accession date바카라 사이트™.

Commenting on the report, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said:

The report confirms what we바카라 사이트™ve been saying for a long time: Scotland would need to leave the EU and applying for membership from scratch would be a lengthy and complex process. This is simply the cold and hard facts.

With the facts staring them in the face about how long it could take an independent Scotland to apply for EU membership, the Scottish 바카라 사이트 are in a state of denial. This does no favours to Scottish businesses, families, farmers and fishing communities.

Being passionate about independence is not an excuse to avoid hard questions on issues like currency, security, pensions and Scotland바카라 사이트™s ability to do business with other countries. All of this would be jeopardised by independence.

We want the best for Scotland 바카라 사이트“ this means keeping the pound and keeping us in Europe with the UK바카라 사이트™s hard won rebate and opt-outs.

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Published 3 June 2014