Scotland's Prime Minister is optimistic about the country's possible independence. Should the Scots decide to secede from Great Britain in the event of a new referendum, Sturgeon expects a quick readmission to the EU.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon is hoping for a speedy re-admission to the EU in the event of independence from Great Britain. Although there will be negotiations, most experts agree that "this will not be a particularly long process," Sturgeon said in Edinburgh. "Nobody who can be trusted seriously thinks that Scotland is not welcome back in the European Union."
In a referendum in 2014, more than half of Scottish voters opposed secession from the United Kingdom. However, Scotland left the EU as part of the United Kingdom in 2020. Supporters of an independent Scotland argue that this has fundamentally changed the situation and that Scots should vote again for their country's independence.
In her remarks on the economy of an independent Scotland, Sturgeon explained that border controls would be necessary for the movement of goods between Scotland and its closest trading partner, England. The fear of passport controls, for example when visiting relatives across borders, is "nonsense", since Scotland will remain in a common zone with Ireland and Great Britain, in which there is freedom of travel. Sturgeon also confirmed plans to introduce a new currency - a Scottish pound. However, she did not want to set a timeline for it just yet.
The leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) has targeted a referendum for October 19, 2023. At the request of the Scottish Government, the UK's highest court is currently examining whether Edinburgh can legitimately hold such a vote, even if the UK central government does not give the go-ahead.
