Scotland might face eight-year wait to rejoin EU after independence

Scotland might face ready nearly a decade to rejoin the EU after independence, in response to the SNP authorities’s personal officers.

Internal evaluation by civil servants states that it could take as much as eight years for an unbiased Scotland to grow to be a part of the Brussels membership.

Under a best-case state of affairs, the method would take between three and 4 years.

It additionally highlighted exterior warnings that Scotland can be compelled to hitch the Euro and the Schengen space, which might imply passport checks to journey throughout the border to England.

And it discovered over 30 new public our bodies must be set as much as meet membership necessities.

The undated evaluation, written earlier than the UK left the EU, mentioned: “The best case scenario for Scotland would involve a total timeline of three to four years and the upper limit could be up to eight years, based on Scotland acceding to the EU from third country status.”

The devolved administration was compelled to launch the paperwork by Scottish Information Commissioner Daren Fitzhenry after initially making an attempt to maintain them secret.

The SNP authorities mentioned the knowledge “does not reflect current government thinking” and that it could be “inaccurate to suggest that any of the details within reflect past or present government policy”.

But Shadow Scotland Secretary Ian Murray said it was a blow to the case for independence.

The Labour frontbencher told The Telegraph: “It’s no wonder the SNP wanted to keep this damning analysis from the public.

“This makes abundantly clear that the SNP’s independence plans would be Brexit on steroids – years of political upheaval and economic harm justified by a vague promise of jam tomorrow.”

A Scottish Government spokesman mentioned among the recommendation “pre-dates the pandemic and other significant developments” such because the post-Brexit commerce deal.

He added: “To give people the information they need to make an informed choice about Scotland’s constitutional future, ministers will shortly publish a paper setting out how an independent Scotland would re-join the EU, in order to escape the damage of Brexit and enjoy the benefits of being back in the EU as a full, equal member.”