Spanish PM questions Scottish EU status

Mariano Rajoy said that if the region leaves the member state, it should remain outside the EU.

12:51 28 November 2013

Spanish Prime Minister, who is very vocal about his views on independence referendum being held in Catalonia, has spoken at a media conference during a summit with French president Francois Hollande. He said: "I would like that the consequences of that secession be presented with realism to Scots.

"Citizens have the right to be well informed and particularly when it's about taking decisions like this one.

"I respect all the decisions taken by the British, but I know for sure that a region that would separate from a member state of the European Union would remain outside the European Union and that should be known by the Scots and the rest of the European citizens".

The Spanish prime minister’s speech is being considered as an implicit warning to the Spanish region of Catalonia that would like to follow the steps that Scots are about to take.

Meanwhile, Finance Secretary John Swinney, has spoken on Newsnight Scotland saying that the country was already part of EU.

He said: "We are members of the European Union.”

"Once Scotland votes for independence - a Yes vote in September 2014 - we remain still within the European Union and the day of independence doesn't happen until 2016.

 

"So we are doing this from within the European Union as part of our membership."