Before an independent Scotland can join the European Union, the Scottish government must begin the process outlined below:
Satisfying the Accession Criteria
The accession criteria, or Copenhagen criteria (after the European Council in Copenhagen in 1993 which defined them), are the essential conditions all candidate countries must satisfy to become an EU member state.
These are:
- political criteria: stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;
- economic criteria: a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competition and market forces;
- administrative and institutional capacity to effectively implement the acquis and ability to take on the obligations of membership.
The Union’s capacity to absorb new members, while maintaining the momentum of European integration, is also an important consideration.
The EU reserves the right to decide when a candidate country has met these criteria and when the EU is ready to accept the new member.
For more details, see the following sections on the European Commission website:
According to Dr Kirsty Hughes, an independent Scotland could join the EU within 4-5 years from independence. Once Scotland has been accepted as a candidate, participated in negotiations and undertaken all the adjustments that would be demanded by the EU during that process, it is expected that all 27 EU member states would ratify the EU treaty.
In the face of a legally and constitutionally valid independence process, an independent Scotland (with 47 years experience as part of the EU, within the UK) would be highly likely to succeed in joining.
Find out more: An Independent Scotland in the EU: Issues for Accession
Edited by Kirsty Hughes, 17 March 2020
Pathway to Joining the EU
The information below was taken from The EU Blueprint Pathway for Scotland’s Accession to the European Union under Independence, by ANTHONY SALAMONE, PhD, European Merchants, Edinburgh.
An independent Scottish state should be built with EU membership in mind. This means that the Scottish government should sign up to the European Human Rights Convention and create political institutions that reflect the shared values and interests of the EU 27. It should also establish an EU Integration Unit to serve as the central coordinating command for all internal government preparations for EU membership.
Scotland should not apply to join the European Free Trade Association as a temporary measure. Instead, the EU and Scotland should clearly define its Strategic Priorities for EU Accession and negotiate an Association Agreement during the pre-accession period.
Scotland is a European nation. It has an advanced democracy with a developed free-market economy, underpinned by respect for the rule of law and human rights. Scotland will be in an extremely strong position to satisfy the political and economic dimensions of the Copenhagen Criteria, and in a strong position to satisfy the institutional dimension. Scotland’s accession would not pose a challenge to the EU’s integration capacity. After it is granted candidate country status, Scotland will follow the procedure of accession devised by the EU. The length of the accession process is not predefined, but wont be less than 4 years.
Scotland is uniquely qualified for an ambitious association agreement. Scotland should seek a
high degree of integration into the EU internal market, incorporating the four freedoms, for goods, services, capital and people. It should pursue the degree of relationship with the EU customs union which is assessed to be in the best interests of Scotland and the Union at the time.
- The Scottish Government should propose a model of partial participation in the Schengen agreement, under which the Common Travel Area, with England, Ireland and Wales, can be preserved.
- The Government should seek agreement on a Political Declaration on the Evolution of the Common Fisheries Policy, based on national priorities for reform determined in extensive consultation.
- The Government should seek transitional provisions on the monetary policy rules, the extent of which will depend on whether it has continued unilateral adoption of the pound sterling or it has established its own national currency.
- The Government should seek transitional provisions on economic policy, including necessary elements of the Stability and Growth Pact, based on its prevailing fiscal circumstances owing to the establishment of the Scottish state.
Once the draft treaty has been agreed, Scotland should hold an EU accession referendum, so that the people have the chance to give their approval to EU membership. Provided that the people endorse the treaty and EU membership, Scotland will ratify the treaty. The existing EU Member States will ratify the treaty after Scotland has held its EU referendum. Each Member State will ratify the treaty in accordance with its practice, though they will all hold some form of parliamentary vote.
As a full member of the EU, Scotland will elect up to 14 MEPs who will sit in the European Parliament and have full representation in the EU Commission.