{{European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said it would be “extremely difficult, if not impossible” for an independent Scotland to join the European Union.}}<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters he said an independent Scotland would have to apply for membership and get the approval of all current member states.<\/p>\n
Scotland’s Finance Minister described his comments as “pretty preposterous”.<\/p>\n
John Swinney said Mr Barroso’s view was based on a false comparison.<\/p>\n
The referendum on Scottish independence will be held on 18 September, with voters being asked the Yes\/No question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”<\/p>\n
{{New state}}<\/p>\n
In his interview with Andrew Marr, Mr Barroso said: “In case there is a new country, a new state, coming out of a current member state it will have to apply.”<\/p>\n
He said it was important that “accession to the European Union will have to be approved by all other member states of the European Union.”<\/p>\n
He went on: “Of course it will be extremely difficult to get the approval of all the other member states to have a new member coming from one member state.”<\/p>\n
Mr Barroso cited the example of the Spanish not recognising Kosovo.<\/p>\n
He said: “We have seen Spain has been opposing even the recognition of Kosovo, for instance. So it is to some extent a similar case because it’s a new country and so I believe it’s going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, a new member state coming out of our countries getting the agreement of the others.”<\/p>\n
However, Mr Barroso made clear that it was up to the people of Scotland to decide their future, and he said he did not want to interfere in that process.<\/p>\n
BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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