Fears over Scots border controls

Published on 14/10/2012 00:00

AS A Scot who worked very hard in the first referendum for devolution for Scotland, and who had a fair understanding of what would be involved in that change, I am despairing of getting any “hard” information from the SNP about our relationship with Europe in advance of the next referendum.

As a consequence, I would like to share with readers my experience of travelling in Croatia this year, which is awaiting membership of the EU in 2013.

Our group was based in Croatia, and we travelled through Bosnia-Herzegovina to our second base in Dubrovnik. The journey through the mountains was an eye-opener for me, but it was the border controls that were a big learning experience. There are two: one where you are leaving one country and after a “journey” of some 200 metres comes the entry point into the next country. On both occasions passports are taken away to be recorded in the database.

On each occasion the driver provided in advance a list of passengers with passport information. And these were organised tours/journeys. Can you imagine how the departure points/entry points between Scotland and England could cope with the everyday crossings that take place currently?

My questions to the First Minister are: will Scotland as an independent country have to apply for membership of the EU? What will be our standing as former members when Scotland was part of the UK?

Janet Andrews, via e-mail