AN MEP has called for the European Commission to outline its views on an independent Scotland rejoining the EU after Brexit, saying it should be allowed in an “unobstructed and accelerated way”.
Istvan Ujhelyi, who represents the Hungarian Socialist Party, says the “saddening situation” of Brexit was not made by the Scottish people and their voice has to be heard.
He said there was “no question” that if Scotland wants to hold another independence referendum and stay in the EU, then they are “more than welcome”.
The MEP has lodged an urgent question at the European Parliament calling for the Commission to outline its view on Scotland’s efforts to gain independence and the chances of rejoining the EU if it does.
He has also requested information on the conditions that a country which has been a member state to date has to fulfil to be readmitted or remain in the EU.
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Ujhelyi said: “I truly believe that the people of Scotland has the right to decide whether they want to stay in the EU or not.
“This saddening situation of Brexit was not made by the Scottish people and they didn’t have to accept this.
“Their voice has to be heard and they have already expressed their will: to stay part of the European community.
“Therefore there is no question that if Scottish people want to hold another referendum on independence and want to stay in the EU, they are more than welcome.
“As a Member of the European Parliament I fully support the Scottish people in this matter.”
The question submitted by Ujhelyi states: “Scotland cannot be held prisoner in Great Britain’s jail” – the message delivered by the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which performed well in the UK elections, to re-elected Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“Nicola Sturgeon’s party is pushing for another referendum on Scottish independence for 2020, one which would have an unequivocal outcome, given the SNP’s performance in Scotland in the election on December 12.
“Yet the question is when and under what circumstances the Europe-supporting Scots, undertaking to uphold EU values, can become or remain members of the EU.”
Ujhelyi told the Sunday National he was seeking a “clear statement” on the issue of Scottish EU-membership, in light of the fact Brexit is a “unique situation” and there had been no similar case previously.
“My personal opinion is that a current EU member state – especially if it loses its European status beyond its will and own fault – has to become a member again in an unobstructed and accelerated way,” he added.
SNP shadow Brexit secretary Dr Philippa Whitford MP welcomed his comments, saying: “Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU and we have rejected Brexit at every opportunity we have had.
“It is welcome that more and more people from across Europe are recognising, with open arms, Scotland’s desire to remain at the heart of Europe and our democratic right to choose our own future as an equal and independent European country.”
She added: “The SNP won a landslide victory at the General Election – winning 80% of seats in Scotland on a cast-iron mandate to hold an independence referendum.
READ MORE: Senior EU figure backs rapid re-entry for independent Scotland
“The people of Scotland must have a choice over our future – and that choice will be ours to make not Boris Johnson’s.”
Last month a German politician suggested an independent Scotland could quickly rejoin the EU.
David McAllister, who chairs the European Parliament’s committee on foreign affairs, said the issue of whether an independent Scotland could become a member of the EU was “currently a theoretical question.”
But he added: “Since the EU legal system is part of the United Kingdom in Scotland, an admission procedure would probably be shorter than for a country that has to gradually move closer to the EU in legal, economic and political terms.
“In the end, the European Parliament decides by majority on the admission of each new member state.”
A spokesperson for the European Commission said that it “respects the internal constitutional arrangements of the UK”.
He added: “Our longstanding position is that we do not comment on internal, constitutional issues related to our Member States.”
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