BFSCaseforIndy_Nov13

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Europe The Scottish Government proposes to agree the terms of Scotland's continued membership of the European Union between the date of the referendum (18th September 2014), and the proposed date of independence in March 2016, arguing that continued membership would be negotiated 'from within'. This is broadly in agreement with the UK Government's (current) position. In February 2013, Professors James Crawford and Alan Boyle produced a report on Scotland's EU membership commissioned by the UK Government Professor James Crawford of Cambridge University said in a BBC radio interview that the negotiations for Scotland to continue its membership of the European Union, which would take place during that 18 month period were not "necessarily going to be difficult" and that the 18-month period set out by the Scottish Government for the negotiation of Scotland's independence in the wake of a 'Yes' vote is realistic. Graham Avery , Senior Adviser at the European Policy Centre, Brussels, and Honorary Director- General of the European Commission who took part in successive negotiations for EU enlargement gave evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee in which he stated: In July 2013 Rasmus Helveg Petersen MP, a spokesman on foreign affairs for the Denmark's Social Liberals said: "The criteria is very objective Scotland would qualify. If Scotland wants it, yes. It would be a mere formality." http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/events/programmes/2012-13/ speaker_notes/Avery_ScotlandEU.pdf According to Lord Malloch-Brown, who served in the Foreign Office under Gordon Brown for two years: "I don't think they would have any particular reason to want to make things tricky for Scotland." He also claimed "If they were going to make the issue embarrassing for anybody it is more likely they would make it embarrassing for London, with whom they have bigger problems" Despite all the politicking about Scotland’s EU membership, it seems a consensus has now been reached. Of course, all this could have been avoided had the UK Government simply asked the European Commission for a ruling - something they flatly refused to do... but, of course, it’s not in their interests to provide clarity. In October 2013, Former Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said that he saw “no reason to believe that any country around Europe would have an in-principal objection to any new Member State coming forward” during an interview with a http://www.businessforscotland.co.uk/no-campaign-eu-membership-mythfalls-apart/ Catalan News Agency. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/lordmalloch-brown-independent-scotland-will-be-welcomed-intoeu.1361449365
The number of MEPs sent to the European Parliament would be a matter of negotiation but it would seem likely to increase as Scotland, as part of the UK, currently elects the same number of MEPs as Malta or Luxembourg which have less than 10% of Scotland's population and less than half the number of Denmark (which has a similar population to Scotland). In January 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron promised an in/out referendum on EU membership if the Conservative Party wins the next General Election. According to Gavin McCrone, former chief economic adviser to the Scottish Office (and author of the infamous McCrone Report) : "Membership of the EU is very important for Scotland because so many inward investment companies have chosen it as a base from which to serve the European market. If Scotland was outside the EU, it would be more difficult to attract inward investment and, depending on what agreement was reached on access to the single market, some of those already in Scotland may leave." http://www.businessforscotland.co.uk/westminster-working-against-scotlandsinterests-on-europe/ He added: "If, therefore, it seems increasingly likely that the UK will leave the EU, the logical consequence could be an increase in support for independence." Currency The issue of the currency of an independent Scotland has been a hotly debated topic. Ultimately, Scotland's currency is an issue for successive Scottish Governments to decide but it would be up to the current Scottish Government to set out the arrangements on day 1. http://www.businessforscotland.co.uk/euro-pound-or-scottish-pound/ The options are: Retain the Pound with a Formal Currency Union with the UK Unilaterally retain the Pound (No Formal Agreement is required) Set up a new Scottish Currency pegged to the Pound (i.e. Fixed Exchange Rate) Set up a new flexible Scottish Currency (i.e. Variable Exchange Rate) Join the Euro In February 2013, an independent Fiscal Commission working group was asked by the Scottish Government to investigate options for the currency and macro-economic framework of an independent Scotland. The working group contained senior economists from around the world who regularly advise the UN, OECD, IMF and European Commission. Two were awarded Nobel prizes in Economics. Their report is over 220 pages long so it’s funny to hear politicians claim that the Scottish Government haven’t provided enough information on this topic. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/ Resource/0041/00414291.pdf
Page 1 and 2: The Case for Independence Who are B
Page 3 and 4: Revenue The average tax paid per he
Page 5 and 6: Deficit Despite higher spending, du
Page 7 and 8: He also suggests that Scottish and
Page 9: Pensions Pensions come in a variety
Page 13 and 14: The Euro According to the Fiscal Co
Page 15: If the economic case for Independen

BFSCaseforIndy_Nov13

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