Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for an independent Scotland to join the European Union is in tatters as figures in Brussels claim Edinburgh would need to buckle on the Euro before membership can be considered, a report has claimed. The Scottish First Minister, who campaigned for Scotland to remain in the EU in 2016, last week claimed that independence would allow Scots to rid themselves of the UK’s economic woes as she looks to rejoin the Brussels bloc.
However, several EU sources have poured cold water on Ms Sturgeon’s plan.
The insiders claimed that any Scottish application for membership would require a pledge to join the single currency, the Times has revealed.
A senior source unambiguously said: “No euro, no membership.”
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross reacted to the Times’ report on Twitter.
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The MP for Moray said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for separation is in tatters.”
The EU’s own membership terms dealt a further blow to Ms Sturgeon’s plan.
It said: “All EU member states, except Denmark, are required to adopt the euro and join the euro area.”
Brussels has pushed EU-27 member states to adopt the single currency since Brits voted for Brexit in 2016.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney went on to suggest Scotland could become an EU country using its own currency within a decade.
Ms Sturgeon’s commitment to join the EU comes after Scots voted decisively to stay in the bloc, while English and Welsh electors backed Brexit.
The Scottish Government told the Times: “An independent Scotland would benefit from re-joining the European Union and the EU would equally gain from Scotland’s membership.
“Scotland will continue to use sterling at the point of independence and establish a Scottish pound as soon as practicable.”
