The Scottish first minister, who gave a keynote speech in Belgium on Monday on Scotland’s place in Europe, said the potential threat of the UK exiting the EU, “against our will, is an important additional factor in the Scottish constitutional debate.”
Salmond, in an address at the College of Europe in Bruges said the UK’s possible EU exit referendum in 2017 posed a “real risk to Scotland’s place in Europe”, and highlighted a, “fundamental truth: that the best way to make a positive contribution, is as an independent and equal partner.”
He warned that the UK was now in danger of slipping towards the margins of European influence and that if the Scots continued to remain governed from London, “we face the prospects of an in-out referendum on whether to be part of the EU at all.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s proposal to hold such a referendum is a position, that, “no politician in Scotland would ever have considered to be reasonable. There is virtually no support for this step in the Scottish parliament.”
Salmond said that the Scots would, “almost certainly vote to stay in the EU”, and highlighted a recent poll that suggested that in Scotland, voters supported staying in the EU by a factor of two to one.
It is therefore conceivable he said, "that unless we choose to change our circumstances this September, we could be dragged out of the EU against our will.”
"Unless we choose to change our circumstances this September, we could be dragged out of the EU against our will"
However the EU in-out debate in Britain wasn’t the principal reason for Scotland seeking independence he said, “The main reason for seeking independence is a desire to gain the powers any normal nation has.”
“But the contrast we now see, between playing a full and equal role in Europe as an independent state, or potentially leaving it against our will, is an important additional factor in the Scottish constitutional debate.”
Despite recent comments by European commission president José Manuel Barroso, warning that Scotland would have to reapply for EU membership if it seceded from the UK, Salmond said that his plans for completing membership negotiations within 18 months following a ‘yes’ vote in September and achieving independence in march 2016, were realistic.
“Scotland will ask for continued [EU] membership on the basis of ‘continuity of effect’ and at no detriment to other member states.”
Salmond’s speech echoed his comments in the latest issue of the Parliament Magazine, where the first minister warned that despite an overwhelming consensus in Scotland for EU membership, “A profound democratic deficit affected all areas of Scottish life and posed a real threat to Scotland’s place in Europe.”
"Scotland will ask for continued [EU] membership on the basis of ‘continuity of effect’ and at no detriment to other member states”
“Because we make up just over eight per cent of the UK population, a majority elsewhere in the UK could force Scotland to leave.”
This means that for Scotland, becoming an independent nation is the only way to secure our place in the EU. Continued membership of Europe is central to our vision of an independent Scotland. And Scotland’s membership will surely be central to any vision of the EU which is true to the Union’s founding ideals.”
A recent opinion poll on voting intentions in the upcoming Scottish independence referendum suggests that Alex Salmond needs a swing of just over two per cent to secure victory.
The ICM poll highlighted a significant reduction in support for the no vote campaign over recent weeks with 42 per cent of the vote. The yes campaign are currently on 39 per cent, with 19 per cent still undecided.
The Scottish Independence referendum will take place on September 18th.