Referendum round-up: EU membership

Get the latest on the referendum on our Scottish independence site. Picture: Jane Barlow

TODAY’S MAIN NEWS:

The prospect of an independent Scotland joining the European Union within 18 months of a Yes vote has suffered a blow after the new President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, called for a five-year freeze on EU enlargement.

In other news, Chancellor George Osborne has challenged the Scottish Government to answer three key questions about the economy of an independent Scotland, claiming the SNP administration is in “denial” with just weeks to go to the referendum vote.

Meanwhile, Artur Mas, the President of Catalonia, has admitted that he would like to see a ‘Yes’ vote in the Scottish independence referendum, believing that it will prove helpful in achieving his aim of an independent Catalan state.

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS:

Our Scottish independence site showcases some of the best comment, analysis and opinion from across the web; here are some of our favourite articles from the last 24 hours.

• Durham University’s Richard Hingley discusses the return of Hadrian’s Wall to discussions as the Scottish independence referendum campaign continues.

• Niki Seth-Smith of Precarious Europe outlines the Common Weal project, and its impact on the ‘Yes Scotland’ campaign for Scottish independence, in this piece for Al-Jazeera.

• Hugh Fraser, an oil and gas industry expert, suggests that an independent Scotland is better placed to manage North Sea oil than the UK government.

• What reasons do ordinary voters give for their backing of one camp or the other? The Epoch Times carry out a straw poll on the streets of Edinburgh, gauging voters’ feelings on the referendum campaign.

• Comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli reflects on his support for Scottish independence in this interview with the US news website Global Post.

• Duncan McKay looks at the possible impact of a Scottish football win against World Cup-winners Germany in their game just days before the independence referendum.

• Stephen Smellie, deputy convener of the Scottish arm of trade union Unison, writes in the Morning Star on his reasons for backing a Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum.

• Get the latest referendum news, opinion and analysis from across Scotland and beyond on our new Scottish Independence website

Referendum round-up: EU membership | North Sea oil