Scotland likely to be new state, with rest of UK continuing

Published on 12/02/2013 00:00

Professors Crawford and Boyle believe the most likely outcome of independence would be the continuation of the UK as an existing state under international law and the creation of a new state of Scotland.

However, they have not ruled out the creation of two completely new states or the resurrection of the Scottish state that existed prior to 1707, although both outcomes are deemed unlikely.

The Scottish Government’s claim that Scotland would remain a member of existing international organisations such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union “can be dismissed as, at best, inconclusive”, they say.

The report states: “Assuming that Scotland would be recognised as a new state, albeit a successor state to the UK, it is difficult to see how Scotland could evade the accession process for new states in the EU treaties.”