Brexit may have made Scotland rejoining the EU easier as Spain’s argument dismantled

Professor Nicola McEwen: Brexit could made independent Scotland easier

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Senior Fellow at the think tank, UK in a changing Europe, Professor Nicola McEwen reflected on what challenges would occur for an independent Scotland rejoining the EU. During an interview with Express.co.uk, Professor McEwen said Brexit may have made the process easier for Scotland. She insisted that a Scotland that is no longer part of the United Kingdom would be different from the Spanish and Catalonia situation.

She added, EU member states in support of Scotland joining would make this point if Spain argued against it.

Professor McEwen said: “There would have to be unanimity from all the European Union member states.

“I don’t necessarily foresee that as a problem.

“I think Brexit, in some ways, has made that a little bit easier.

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“This is because it makes Scotland look a little bit different from Catalonia, in terms of the Spanish challenges.

“This is because it is outside, it could give a bit of cover for other member states to say that Scotland is different.

“There are other issues like the kind of European state an independent Scotland would be.

“And ensuring that they can maintain and secure the consent and support from all of the member states.”

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Professor McEwen also highlighted that Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP could utilise parts of the Brexit playbook to get the referendum needed for independence. 

Like with Brexit, she argued it could be beneficial to break down independence into two parts, a withdrawal agreement from the UK and what the future relationship would be like.

She also reiterated the importance of clarity on the future between the UK and an independent Scotland due to sharing a border.

Professor McEwen said: “I think there could be more emphasis that Scottish independence would be a process, not an event.

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“This can also be said about Brexit.

“I think there is a lot that we can learn from the Brexit process about how Scotland could theoretically become independent and what that would mean in terms of negotiating with the rest of the UK in the first instance.

“You can use the language of Brexit if you like, a withdrawal agreement and a future relationship.”

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