European Union

International relations after independence

Stephen Richard — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 15:36:43 +0000

International relations after independence Stephen Richard Thu, 10/28/2021 - 16:36

Author or Creator

Common Weal

How would an independent Scotland take its place in the world?

How does an independent Scotland develop relations with the rest of the world?

This is really two sets of questions – how do we set up the infrastructure which enables Scotland to function as proper nation state when it deals with other countries (or people, businesses or organisations from other countries) and how do we go about joining the international organisations and coalitions which govern global politics. Some of this is covered under other questions in this briefing (like establishing international standard passports and border systems or joining the United Nations).

So how do you go about joining the other international organisations?

There are many organisations (and also treaties) which Scotland might want to join or sign up to (some it definitely would want to). Each of the membership organisations have their own rules for joining. Some are quite complex but must be worked through (like the World Trade Organisation), others are long and involve a lot of preparation (joining the EU) some are fairly routine (becoming a member of the United Nations). Each needs to be looked at individually and the processes worked through. But really only the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation are pretty well essential.

So what about the European Union?

Joining the EU is a fairly lengthy process and a country has to make sure it is largely aligned with EU rules in a number of ways before the process can even start properly (though from the moment a country that indicates it wants to join it enters a long-tern relationship with the EU). That alignment involves ensuring that all the necessary regulatory agencies are in place (there are some of these that Scotland will need to create from scratch, but would have to anyway), a central bank and currency are established, rules are beginning to be harmonised and various financial thresholds are met. At that point there is a formal three-year accession period which involves quite complex negotiations (not in the sense that they are unlikely to be achieved but that there are a lot of them). The country joining has to join the European Economic Area at the start of this process (which ensures full harmonisation with the European Single Market). But there are staging options such as joining the European Free Trade Organisation (which can be done quickly) and then it is possible to join the EEA independently of joining the EU. There are many complex decisions to be made and they get more complex the longer we diverge from EU membership inside the UK. There is no problem about finding a route to a productive relationship with the EU but how far, how quickly and with what implications is something that requires proper examination and proper debate.

What about international treaties?

Treaties are agreements between nation states that seek to govern how they interact with each other and create a kind of 'international order'. There really are many hundreds of these to which Scotland will be a signatory through the UK. Many relate to international organisations and so Scotland would become an independent signatory to those ones during the membership process to these organisations. Some are 'signals of intent' that Scotland will want to apply to sign (like for example nuclear non-proliferation treaties). Some may just be irrelevant or defunct and there are some we might actively want to exit. And of those, some may be political decisions for later Scottish governments. The National Commission simply needs to sit down, go through them all and put them into each of these various categories.

What about trading with other nations?

This is of course important for an advanced economy like Scotland. There are a number of ways in which trade is handled, including bilateral deals, multilateral deals and WTO rules. The key to the multilateral deals is the relationship with the EU – EFTA has a series of pre-made deals, the EEA is a large trading block and so on. This all has to be negotiated. Depending on the outcome of this there may or may not be any scope for bilateral deals. Whatever happens, Scotland must join the WTO. This involves signing up to a baseline position of how it will undertake trade and making clear the 'rules' you will set for trade (for example, outlining tariffs or quotas you will put in place). Once you do that you must abide by these – but if Scotland was a full member of the EU then it is the EU (as a single trading block) that sets these rules and Scotland's commitments would be as part of the EU. Any way round, trading arrangements would be similar to those pre-independence, unless the UK signs a lot of bilateral agreements before independence.

So how do we manage all of that after independence?

That's fairly straightforward – we need to set up a Foreign Office as part of the civil service. But it will mean recruiting staff with experience as Scotland's civil service don't have a lot of foreign affairs experience.

And what about embassies?

Again, this is pretty straightforward. If Scotland is a member of the EU it has an embassy-sharing agreement and Scotland might well be able to agree a sharing deal with the UK during negotiations. But there is nothing complicated about setting up a consulate network. At heart they are premises and an agreement with the host nation to recognise them as a consulate. It is unlikely that Scotland would want to maintain a full consular presence in every one of the world's nations but it will not be hard to identify the number of countries where Scotland has historic connections, trades extensively or has a significant level of travel by Scottish citizens. Purchasing a property in each and agreeing recognition with the nation state will not be difficult – and many of them will want to open embassies in Scotland in return.

Keywords

International relations

International trade

European Union

How will borders with England be determined?

Stephen Richard — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 21:41:51 +0000

How will borders with England be determined? Stephen Richard Fri, 10/22/2021 - 22:41

Author or Creator

The Ferret

In an analysis published in March, the Institute for Government said it would not be possible to replicate the Northern Ireland protocol arrangement for an independent Scotland, because Scotland would be a full member of the EU, although Nicola Sturgeon has said the protocol could “offer some template” for how an independent Scotland could deal with its land border with England.

It is not known what arrangements the Scottish Government envisages putting in place should the issue of an Anglo-Scottish border ever become a reality. Detailed proposals for how the border would work in practice have not been drawn up as yet.

We cannot say how the border between Scotland and England would work, as there has yet to be a plan developed for trading with the rest of the UK if Scotland became independent.

It is likely that trade friction would be caused if Scotland joined the European Union and the European single market. There would be fewer barriers to trade between Scotland and the EU than in the post-Brexit UK, while trade with the UK nations would be harder.

Keywords

Borders

European Union

Northern Ireland

Would an independent Scotland have to use the Euro?

Stephen Richard — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 17:57:20 +0000

Would an independent Scotland have to use the Euro?

Primary Author or Creator

Believe in Scotland

Stephen Richard Thu, 11/04/2021 - 17:57

Category

Currency

Fast Facts

‘No. Scotland would not have to necessarily use the Euro.’

More details

It’s a regular question and relates to EU rules that are largely misunderstood, whether an independent Scotland would have to necessarily use the Euro as its currency. We say that the question is more about whether an independent Scotland would decide to adopt the Euro or not? We researched the facts and we found the following:

The Truth

The short answer is, ‘no Scotland would not have to necessarily use the Euro.’ In fact, if an independent Scotland decides to join the EU as a full member, then according to the process for joining as a new member, Scotland would have to commit to using the euro at some undefined point in the future.

The Facts

The Scottish Government’s current policy is to be an EU member.
It is technically impossible to join the euro if you do not have your own currency. Joining the euro involves joining the European Exchange Rate Mechanism and without a sovereign currency, you can’t do that.
In principle, all Member States that do not have an opt-out clause (i.e. the United Kingdom and Denmark) have committed to adopting the euro once they fulfil the necessary conditions. However, it is up to individual countries to calibrate their path towards the euro and no timetable is prescribed.
The Member States that joined the EU in 2004, 2007 and 2013, after the euro was launched, did not meet the conditions for entry to the euro area at the time of their accession. Therefore, their Treaties of Accession allow them time to make the necessary adjustments.
It is highly likely that an independent Scotland would continue to use the sterling as its currency, at least during a transitional period.
To use the euro you have to meet the necessary conditions set by the EU and Scotland doesn’t, not least because it neither has nor plans to launch its own sovereign currency immediately after becoming independent.
Scotland would be empowered by the EU to decide the timetable to meet the conditions and as quoted, no timetable is prescribed; Scotland could be on an indefinite path to adoption. There are several nations to whom this process already applies and the EU told them they did not qualify to use the euro; such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

Conclusions

An independent Scotland does not need to use the euro as its currency under all circumstances.

Due to the use of sterling in the transition period, it is possible for Scotland to join the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, to have to access the single market and customs union. EFTA members are not required to join the euro, but they can if they wish to become full members of the EU.
If independent Scotland joins the EU as a full member state the EU will agree that it is not possible for Scotland to adopt the euro and will give the Scottish Government full control over the timescales to meet the criteria. The Scottish Government can therefore indefinitely avoid joining the euro. However, a future Scottish Government might decide to join the euro voluntarily.

Keywords

Language English

European Union Views of the UK post Brexit and of the Future EU-UK Relationship

Stephen Richard — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 10:29:44 +0000

European Union Views of the UK post Brexit and of the Future EU-UK Relationship

Primary Author or Creator

Kirsty Hughes

Stephen Richard Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:29

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Scottish Centre on European Relations

Alternative Published Date

2020

Category

European Union

Type of Resource

Policy Paper

Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)

28pp

Fast Facts

This paper analyses how the UK is currently perceived across the EU. How the future EU-UK relationship is considered in the medium term. And how the UK’s constitutional strains are understood. Trust in the UK has been severely damaged. There is also substantial Brexit fatigue and frustration. There are different views on whether and how fast a stronger relationship could be built in the future. If Scotland chose independence in a legally and constitutionally sound context, then there is broad openness to Scotland having a normal accession path to the EU.

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.scer.scot/wp-content/uploads/KAS-SCER-final-Paper-November-2020.pdf

Keywords

European Union

Language English

Scotland’s European Relations: Where Next?

Stephen Richard — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 10:13:13 +0000

Scotland’s European Relations: Where Next?

Primary Author or Creator

Kirsty Hughes

Stephen Richard Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:13

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Scottish Centre on European Relations

Alternative Published Date

2021

Category

European Union

Type of Resource

Policy Paper

Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)

26pp

Fast Facts

This paper analyses the range of Scotland’s relations with the EU, and the Scottish government’s European strategy. The Scottish government’s European strategy aims to maintain and develop Scotland’s European relations in Brexit environment. And to Focus on issues of common interest, including the climate emergency, wellbeing, innovation and human rights. For now, Scotland’s European relations are rather positive despite the impact of Brexit. Yet they are also strongly affected by the state of EU-UK relations which currently are difficult and fractious – and UK-Scotland constitutional tensions

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.scer.scot/wp-content/uploads/Final-pdf-Scotland-Europe-Paper-15-6-2…

Keywords

European Union

Brexit

Language English

Busting the last of the myths around independence. Open Minds on Independence #20

Stephen Richard — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 16:45:10 +0000

Busting the last of the myths around independence. Open Minds on Independence #20

Primary Author or Creator

The National

Stephen Richard Sun, 10/10/2021 - 17:45

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Believe in Scotland

Date Published

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 12:00

Category

Independence

Type of Resource

News Media

Fast Facts

This article looks at myths about Scottish independence.

MYTH 7: Nationalism is by its very nature a bad thing

MYTH 8: An independent Scotland would be last in the queue to join the EU

Myth 9: You can’t hold a referendum without Westminster’s “permission”

Myth 10: Independence for Scotland would abandon the rest of the UK to permanent Tory rule

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19246864.open-minds-independence-19-busting-l…

Keywords

Scottish nationalism

European Union

Independence referendum

Language English

Brexit has reinvigorated Scottish nationalism

Stephen Richard — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 11:47:12 +0000

Brexit has reinvigorated Scottish nationalism

Primary Author or Creator

The Economist

Stephen Richard Tue, 10/05/2021 - 12:47

Date Published

Sat, 04/17/2021 - 12:00

Category

Independence

Type of Resource

News Media

Fast Facts

Scottish independence is a constitutional project, not an economic one. Fixing who governs you takes precedence over an easy life for supermarkets or civil servants. Brexit has shown that a committed government, with the mandate of a referendum and an appetite for dislocation, can go a long way.

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.economist.com/briefing/2021/04/15/brexit-has-reinvigorated-scottish…

Keywords

Brexit

Independence referendum

Public finance

International trade

European Union

Language English

Why Brexit has made Scottish independence virtually impossible

Stephen Richard — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 09:47:59 +0000

Why Brexit has made Scottish independence virtually impossible

Primary Author or Creator

Sean O'Grady

Stephen Richard Tue, 10/05/2021 - 10:47

Additional Author(s) / Creators

The Independent

Date Published

Mon, 02/08/2021 - 12:00

Category

Sovereignty

Independence

Type of Resource

News Media

Fast Facts

Independence, then, might be inevitable, but it has to be contemplated with some sense of reality. The reality of Brexit in front of our eyes. Scotland’s freedom from unending Tory rule from London may well be unavoidable. The constitutional position is simply unsustainable. It is intolerable to most of the Scottish people. Can they face another five, 10, 15 years of English Tory rule, even with devolution? Probably not, and they might hope for the best from “global Scotland” as it seizes unnamed exciting new opportunities.

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-scotland-independence-eu-b1799092.h…

Keywords

Language English

The Economics of Scotland-rUK Border

Stephen Richard — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 20:08:03 +0000

The Economics of Scotland-rUK Border

Primary Author or Creator

David Bell

Stephen Richard Sun, 10/03/2021 - 21:08

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Centre on Constitutional Change

Date Published

Mon, 04/06/2020 - 12:00

Category

Sovereignty

Type of Resource

Assessment report

Fast Facts

An independent Scotland within the EU would be part of the EU’s single market: England and Wales would be outside. The border checks may be quite significant. Ireland's experience shows it is clearly possible for a small country to succeed economically in a similar situation to that which would confront an independent Scotland within the EU and establishing a new border.

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/news-and-opinion/economics-scotl…

Keywords

European Union

Borders

International trade

Language English

Scottish independence: EU membership and the Anglo–Scottish border

Stephen Richard — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 19:53:36 +0000

Scottish independence: EU membership and the Anglo–Scottish border

Primary Author or Creator

Institute for Government

Stephen Richard Sun, 10/03/2021 - 20:53

Date Published

Mon, 03/29/2021 - 12:00

Category

International relations

Sovereignty

European Union

Type of Resource

Assessment report

Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)

40pp

Fast Facts

There are indications that the EU would welcome an application from an independent Scotland. Full membership of the EU may take up to a decade to complete. As a new member state, Scotland would probably have to take on the normal obligations, which may include the use of the Euro. A hard border with England would be the consequence of EU membership. Even a looser relationship, similar to Norway, with the EU would require a customs border with England.

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/scot…

Keywords

Language English