THE European Union’s ambassador to the UK has said he is “proud” of Scotland’s support for the EU – and questioned where the Union will be in the future.
Speaking on the fifth anniversary of the Brexit vote, at which 62% of Scots backed Remain, diplomat João Vale de Almeida told The Times the bloc must be “ready for change” to the four nations’ relationship.
It comes as new polls from Europe show voters there support a swift independence referendum – and Scotland’s re-entry into the bloc after a Yes vote.
French network Euronews polled voters in Germany, France, Italy and Spain on how they’d feel about an independent Scotland joining the EU.
READ MORE: European public back indyref2 within a year, new poll reveals
Around 75% of the 6000 people surveyed said they'd either support or not oppose indyref2 within the next 12 months – 51% of whom actively back the move. Just 9% said they’d actively oppose indyref2, with resistance highest in Spain.
Some 74% said they’d either support or not oppose Scotland rejoining the EU, while 17% said they wouldn’t back that idea.
Speaking on the relationship between the EU and UK, and the UK’s future, Vale de Almeida said: "I don’t know what our relationship will be in 20 years’ time.
"I don’t know what the EU will be like in 20 years.
Michel Barnier with João Vale de Almeida
"And maybe I don’t know what your Union here will be like in 20 years’ time.
"Who knows? So we have to be ready for change."
He added: "I’m proud of the support the EU has and the European project has in Scotland."
Last week the Scottish Centre on European Relations released a policy paper on Scotland’s future relationship with the EU, saying the “stark contrast” in views north and south of the Border would lead to Holyrood-Westminster tensions.
Dr Kirsty Hughes said: “There is a potentially unstable triangle here of Scotland-EU, EU-UK and UK-Scotland relationships all impacting on Scotland’s European relations.
“Yet, overall, it is in both Scotland’s and the UK’s interests to have positive relationships with the EU.”
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