Rajoy uses Scotland to warn Catalonia about separatist regions
“Any region that becomes independent also becomes a third country, and that leads to many consequences, such as currency issues and border controls.”
In his latest warning directed at pro-independence factions in Catalonia, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday said that Scotland - which will hold an independence plebiscite next September - will no doubt be booted out of the European Union if voters choose to split from the United Kingdom.
Speaking at a joint news conference with French President François Hollande, who was in Madrid for an official visit, Rajoy conveyed his views on breakaway regions by commenting on the presentation of Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond's "mission statement."
Salmond's 670-page "white book" on Scotland's future, which was presented on Tuesday, argues that as an independent country Scotland would remain in the EU as well as keep the British pound and continue to recognize the Queen as its monarch.
But Rajoy said that an independent Scotland would require the consent of the 28 members of the regional bloc - including Spain - to join the EU.
"I don't know what that white book that has just been presented says," said Rajoy. "But the only thing I would like is for them to be realistic about the consequences of secession.
"I respect all the decisions the British take, but I am very aware that any region that seeks independence will remain outside the EU. It would be good if the Scottish were also aware of this."
The Catalan regional government of Artur Mas, which is pushing for a similar independence vote for his region next year, wants Rajoy to hammer out a referendum accord in the same manner that British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to allow Scotland to hold its plebiscite.
But Rajoy and his ministers have said on many occasions that the British Constitution allows for such a mechanism to be invoked, while Articles 1 and 2 of the Spanish Constitution prohibit it.
While not mentioning Catalonia in his remarks, Rajoy took advantage of Hollande's presence to address the separatist issue. France, which is also dealing with separatist calls from Brittany, Corsica and the Basque region, most likely will veto Scotland's application for membership if it comes to that.
And Rajoy's message to Catalonia was just as clear: "Yesterday, the Union's spokesperson said that the treaties only apply to those who signed them. Any region that becomes independent also becomes a third country, and that leads to many consequences, such as currency issues and border controls. Regaining EU membership is not that simple. Entry must be accepted unanimously by all members," the Spanish prime minister said.
When asked if France would veto any Scottish or Catalan application for membership, Hollande said Catalonia was a Spanish domestic issue. But he declined to say anything about Scotland.
