EU membership

Published on 22/09/2012 00:00

The Rev Archie Black claims (Letters, 20 September) that if Scotland becomes independent, the United Kingdom would no longer exist.

Inconsistently, however, he also states that, if Scotland became independent the (non-existent) United Kingdom would remain a member of the European Union (EU) and might not have to apply for membership.

He asserts that “the reality” is that both the UK and independent Scotland would remain members of the EU and entitled to their rights and obligations in, and to, the EU.

Struan Stevenson MEP, is criticised by Mr Black for his allegedly anti-Scottish stance by maintaining that, following Scottish independence, the UK would continue to be a member of the EU, but the new nation of Scotland would require to apply for membership.

It seems that logic favours Mr Stevenson’s view above Mr Black’s, but the important point is that no-one can say until the deed is done whether, or on what conditions, either the UK or independent Scotland might have to apply for new membership of the EU.

This is one of the vitally important imponderable questions which most Scottish voters, according to the polls, would require to be satisfied on and assured about before committing Scotland to separation.

Baird Matthews

Newton Stewart

Dumfries and Galloway