| Author (Corporate) | United Kingdom: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee |
|---|---|
| Publisher | The Stationery Office (TSO) |
| Series Title | 6th Report |
| Series Details | (2012-13)HC 643 |
| Publication Date | 2013 |
| ISBN | 978-0-21-505723-5 |
| Content Type | Policy-making, Report |
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With just over sixteen months to go before the Scottish referendum on independence on 18 September 2014, there are still significant gaps in the Scottish Government's proposed foreign policy, according to a report published on 1 May 2013 by the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. There has not been enough analysis on what sort of overseas diplomatic network and external security and intelligence provision Scotland would have to set up. There needs to be a more realistic assessment of the extent to which Scotland could expect the rest of the UK to co-operate with, and support it, on security and intelligence. There is a pressing need for official legal advice on a wide range of international legal issues including EU accession, EU opt-outs and membership of international organisations. The Report says that the overwhelming body of law, evidence, practice and precedent supports the view that the rest of the UK would inherit the vast majority of the UK's international rights and obligations whereas Scotland would start anew internationally if it became independent. Having two co-equal states could lead to a level of legal and political insecurity that would not be tolerated by other states. The report disputes the view that Scotland's journey towards membership of the EU and NATO would be straightforward. It is for the EU itself to determine in accordance with its regulations whether and how Scotland would become a member. Scotland may have to make trade-offs to secure the unanimous support it would need from within the EU. |
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| Source Link | http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmfaff/643/64302.htm |
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| Countries / Regions | United Kingdom |
