EU membership for independent Scotland ‘difficult’

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said on the 16 February 2014 that states breaking away from existing EU countries would struggle to gain EU membership, further complicating Scottish nationalists' already uncertain plans for independence.

The Scottish deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said on the next day that Scotland could become legally independent from the UK and join the European Union by March 2016 – within 18 months of voting for independence.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Independence vote: Yes vote 'means no money union' says Osborne http://www.europeansources.info/record/independence-vote-yes-vote-means-no-money-union-says-osborne/

ESO: Background information: Scottish independence: Seven months to save UK, Cameron says http://www.europeansources.info/record/scottish-independence-seven-months-to-save-uk-cameron-says/

ESO: Background information: The Scottish Government’s proposals for an independent Scotland: membership of the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-scottish-governments-proposals-for-an-independent-scotland-membership-of-the-european-union/

The Guardian, 17.02.14: Scotland could join EU 18 months after independence vote, says Sturgeon http://www.theguardian.com/global/2014/feb/17/scotland-independence-sturgeon-united-kingdom-eu

EurActiv, 17.02.14: Barroso: It’s ‘nearly impossible’ for independent Scotland to join EU http://www.euractiv.com/elections/barroso-nearly-impossible-indepe-news-533556

Deutsche Welle, 18.02.14: Rocky road to independence for Scottish nationalists http://dw.de/p/1BAs4

European Commission; Presidemt: News, 16.02.14: President Barroso participates in The Andrew Marr Show http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/president/news/archives/2014/02/20140218_1_en.htm

BBC News, 18.02.14: Scottish independence: Is EU debate common sense? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-26243642

Blog: Open Europe, 17.02.14: If EU law is followed, Scotland will join the EU just before Serbia http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/if-eu-law-is-followed-scotland-will.html

The Guardian, 20.02.14: 'Scotland, stay with us' - David Bowie weighs into independence debate at Brits http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/20/david-bowie-weighs-in-scottish-independence

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 04.03.14: Would an independent Scotland have to reapply to join the EU? http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/there-has-been-extensive-discussion.html

The Guardian, 26.02.14: Alex Salmond attacks 'anti-democratic' arguments against independence http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/26/alex-salmond-anti-democratic-arguments-independence

The Guardian, 16.03.14: BBC asked to justify Andrew Marr's remarks on Scotland's right to join EU http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/16/bbc-justify-andrew-marr-remarks-scotland-right-join-eu

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