Revealed, true cost of going it alone in EU
AN independent Scotland would be allocated less voting power in the EU than Greece, according to information from the European Commission.
The United Kingdom currently has 29 votes within the Council of Ministers – the same number as France, Germany and Italy.
This would fall to 27 votes, based on population size, if Scotland were to become independent.
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Scotland would be allocated seven votes as an independent nation – the same number as Denmark, Slovakia, Finland, Ireland and Lithuania.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats said such a small number of votes would mean Scotland would have to rely on building “shaky alliances” to pass motions or block proposals.
George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, said: “The recent furore over the use of the veto by the UK during the summit over the eurozone crisis has thrown up some interesting questions which the Nationalists have yet to answer. Would Mr Salmond have signed the Treaty as it was presented?
None of these questions have been adequately answered by the SNP
“What will the relationship of an independent Scotland be with our European neighbours?
“When would we join the euro?
“None of these questions have been adequately answered by the SNP.”
Aileen McLeod, SNP MSP and member of the European and External Relations Committee, said: “When the UK does use its votes in Europe, it regularly does so against Scotland’s vital interests – as our farmers and fishermen will testify.
“It was a previous Tory government that was revealed as believing that Scottish fishermen were ‘expendable’ against Westminster’s wider objectives in Europe.
“An independent Scotland in Europe will have its own voice at the top table, better able to represent Scotland’s vital interests and negotiate from a position of strength.”