If Scotland gets independence, will they stay part of the EU?

This is just something I was wondering about tonight. I've done a little bit of reading on different sites, but I'm finding it hard to really understand.

So, if Scotland gets independence, will the country stay part of the EU? Or does no one really know just yet? I asked my Scottish partner the question, and his answer was: "Of course. Why wouldn't we stay part of the EU?"

But then I also asked a Scottish friend, who said that she didn't think it was likely that they would stay part of it.

I'm not an expert on this by any means, but from a quick glance at this thread it looks like they would stay in the EU:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=81636.0

I'm not an expert on this by any means, but from a quick glance at this thread it looks like they would stay in the EU:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=81636.0

Thanks. I probably should've read other threads a little more thoroughly before I posted.

They would have to apply for membership and the latest I saw was that it might not be that straight forward.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25366706

Ah, yes.  'Better' Together's latest favourite scare-story.   

Yes, the fact is they would most likely need to re-apply for membership.  This isn't defininte-- certainly, arguments would be made that existing membership should stand.  It might work, it might not.

As for re-admission, obviously there's lots of sabre-rattling by, among others, Spain.  Actually...pretty much Spain (and Westminster, of course).  The reality, though is that there's virtually no chance that Scotland would actually be denied membership.  http://www.scottishglobalforum.net/scottish-independence-and-eu-membership-debunking-the-myths.html

As far as it goes, I would say there's more chance of ending up outside the EU if Scotland remains dependent.  After all, the government are promising an EU referendum by 2017, and the way opinion polls are skewing, I'd say there's a greater probability of South/Middle England voting to drag us all out of the EU, than of the EU denying membership to an independent Scotland.

As far as it goes, I would say there's more chance of ending up outside the EU if Scotland remains dependent.  After all, the government are promising an EU referendum by 2017, and the way opinion polls are skewing, I'd say there's a greater probability of South/Middle England voting to drag us all out of the EU, than of the EU denying membership to an independent Scotland.

Good point.

Are the Spanish concerned about Basque separation?

Good point.

Are the Spanish concerned about Basque separation?

Their big worry at the moment is actually Catalonian independence.  They've planned a referendum for three weeks after the Scottish one.

Their big worry at the moment is actually Catalonian independence.  They've planned a referendum for three weeks after the Scottish one.

Thanks. More to learn. There is just too much European history....

Their big worry at the moment is actually Catalonian independence.  They've planned a referendum for three weeks after the Scottish one.

The difference there is that Catalonia is not recognised as a separate country, the referendum is not official by the Spanish parliament, whereas the British government will abide by the decision.