Independence: Spain ‘can’t block Scottish EU bid’

A CATALAN nationalist MEP has challenged claims by a European Parliament vice-president that Spain could veto an independent Scotland’s membership of the European Union.

Catalan MP Ramon Tremosa backs Scots right to join EU. Picture: Contributed

Ramon Tremosa, of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia party, suggested Spain might try to block Scotland’s membership to quell Catalan and Basque separatist ambitions, but said it would not be successful.

European Parliament vice-president Alejo Vidal-Quadras has said France and Spain “will surely not” accept an independent Scotland into the EU.

Mr Vidal-Quadras, an MEP from Catalonia who opposes the region’s independence from Spain, also suggested that police would confiscate ballot boxes if Catalonia holds its own “criminal” referendum.

Mr Tremosa said Mr Vidal-Quadras is unpopular in his own party, is destined for defeat in next year’s MEP elections and does not speak for the European Parliament. There would be uproar from the international community if Spanish police confiscate Catalan ballot boxes, Mr Tremosa said.

“Scotland is not Turkey. As a pragmatic union, the EU dealt with the unification of Germany in one week,” he said. “Scotland has several years’ compliance with EU law and citizens with EU rights. You cannot take away [these] rights.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The future of Scotland is a democratic decision for the people of Scotland, not for politicians from other countries.”