A leading International lawyer and academic from the USA has said that post-independence Scotland and the rUK will be “co-equal successor states” in relation to EU membership.
The Professor David Scheffer - a former Special Advisor to Madeleine Albright at the United Nations and the first US Ambassador-at-large for War Crimes Issues during Bill Clinton’s second term in office, now lecturing at North Western University School of Law - told Radio Scotland’s Good morning Scotland programme that Scotland’s passage into the EU should be clear.
GMS host Derek Bateman asked:
“Does it (rUK) become the successor state do you suppose?”
Professor Scheffer replied:
“My argument quite frankly is that we have two co-equal successor states.
“The smart move is to say, look, if it happens – namely if the referendum actually, you know, achieves a ‘Yes’ vote for independence – there will be a path developed for the continued participation of the Scottish people and thus of the new nation of Scotland or the restored nation of Scotland in the European Union”
“The smart move is to say, look, if it happens – namely if the referendum actually, you know, achieves a ‘Yes’ vote for independence – there will be a path developed for the continued participation of the Scottish people and thus of the new nation of Scotland or the restored nation of Scotland in the European Union”
The contribution has been welcomed by Nicola Sturgeon MSP. She said:
“It will come as a huge blow to the anti-independence No camp politicians who know that the real threat to Scotland being ousted from Europe comes from remaining in the Westminster system.
“No serious person can argue that it is anything other than in the interests of the EU to keep Scotland in continuous membership, given this country’s huge natural resources in energy and other aspects which make us such a valuable European partner.
“It is only a Yes vote for an independent Scotland at the referendum next year that will ensure Scotland’s voice is always heard at the top tables of Europe.”
Note: (Listen from 1h.36m.40secs) http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
