Europe and international - summary leaflet
Published 13 March 2014
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Scotland: Europe and international
The UK delivers on the world stage for all its citizens, including those in Scotland, through our network of 267 embassies, high commissions and consulates and UKTI’s offices in over 100 countries.
EU membership
An independent Scottish state’s membership of the EU would need the agreement of all 28 Member States. The Scottish Government’s expectations for the timeframe and terms of its EU membership are completely unprecedented, which is why the President of the EU Commission, the Prime Minister of Spain, and others, have raised concerns.
Scotland benefits from the UK’s status within the EU and terms of membership. As part of the UK, from 2014-20 Scotland will save between £750 and £1470 per household in EU contributions, compared to independence.
The UK delivers for Scotland at an international level
Scotland benefits from the UK’s membership of international organisations. The UK is one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the only state in the world which is a member of the EU, NATO, G7, G8, G20 and the Commonwealth.
The UK works internationally to promote and protect the economic interests of businesses based in Scotland – for example defending Scotch whisky against counterfeits and discriminatory trade barriers.
As a new state, an independent Scotland would have to apply to be a member of the international institutions and organisations it wanted to join.
Scotland benefits from the UK’s strong voice in Europe
The UK exerts its influence in Europe on behalf of Scotland on issues that matter to people and businesses in Scotland, such as budget contributions, fisheries and agricultural subsidies.
Independent legal opinion published by the UK Government indicates that, in the event of Scottish independence, the continuing UK would retain its EU membership on existing terms. That includes important opt-outs allowing the UK to keep out of the Euro and keep control of its borders and immigration policy.
An independent Scotland’s membership of the EU would require agreement by all 28 Member States. Negotiations on the terms of EU membership, and any special arrangements, for an independent Scottish state would be lengthy and complex, with no guarantee about the outcome. This is why the President of the EU Commission, the Prime Minister of Spain, and others, have raised concerns. Scottish taxpayers get substantial benefit from the UK’s EU budget rebate
EU budget rebate
The UK’s EU budget rebate is worth over £3 billion to the UK taxpayer each year. No other Member State has negotiated its own rebate. Instead, as a new Member State, Scotland would have to contribute to the UK rebate like other Member States. The rebate could not be ‘shared’ between states.
Scotland would receive €228 million less in structural funds over the next seven years if it were an independent state.
On CAP, all 13 Member States that have joined since 2004 have had their CAP payments phased in over 10 years. An independent Scotland’s receipts would be uncertain and would depend on the terms of accession.
The impact of losing the UK’s rebate would dwarf any potential gains or losses on CAP receipts. An independent Scottish state’s net contribution from 2014-20 would be between £750 and £1470 more per household than as part of the UK.