Rajoy slams door on Scotland's negotiations with EU

One of Mariano Rajoy´s obsessions is to prevent Europe from protecting the Catalan process. In recent years he has pressured Brussels --with some success-- to block any attempt by Catalan diplomacy to explain itself in Europe. Thus, for Edinburgh to now become a direct interlocutor with Community institutions is not at all welcome news for the acting president of Spain. It could set a precedent for Catalonia.

Rajoy warned yesterday that he would veto negotiations between the Scottish government and European institutions to remain within the European Union in spite of the UK’s exit. The leader of the PP did not hide that he is "radically against" Edinburgh being a valid interlocutor with the EU. "Scotland has no powers to negotiate with the EU", he affirmed in closing an informal summit of European leaders to analyze the Brexit. "The United Kingdom must be the only interlocutor", he insisted.

Juncker meets Sturgeon

Rajoy was visibly bothered by Nicola Sturgeon’s visit to Brussels yesterday, more so because the First Minister of Scotland was granted direct access to the EU leaders. Sturgeon was received both by Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, and by Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament. "Scotland has earned the right to be heard", was Juncker’s reasoning. She also met with the leaders of the main parliamentary groups in the European Parliament.

The Scottish government —which opposes Brexit— has set all its diplomatic machinery in motion to avoid leaving the European club. Yesterday the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) explained that her visit to the EU capital was just a first meeting to explain Scotland´s position. "It has been a good opportunity to present Scotland´s position and our desire to stay in the EU", said Sturgeon. The Prime Minister, however, was prudent and emphasized that it is still "too soon" to know the future of Scotland within the Union.

Rajoy also wanted to scupper the efforts by Scotland to remain in the Union. "If the UK leaves, so must Scotland", he stressed. Rajoy, however, did not want to say specifically whether Spain would veto Scotland’s accession to the EU if it becomes independent from the United Kingdom, and denied that his position is related to the Catalan independence process. "This has nothing to do with Catalonia", he said.

Faced with the belligerence of the PP leader, Nicola Sturgeon didn´t flinch. The Scottish First Minister considered that it is only a starting point for what will be a long negotiation. "I´m not surprised by this position from a country like Spain in such an early phase of the conversations. None of this is surprising", she said in a press conference after her meeting with Juncker.

The Scottish leader admitted that her government will not get a place at the table for the Brexit negotiations, but she hopes that the EU will find a formula so that her country won´t have to abandon the European club when the United Kingdom does. Scotland voted mostly (62%) in favor of remaining within the EU, and is now seeking a way to avoid having to leave. Sturgeon announced that legal proceedings would be put in motion to call a new referendum on independence, the most direct route to remain within the European club, but she will also explore other means.

The Scottish government maintains a very fluid relationship with the European diplomatic corps accredited in Edinburgh, among them a Spanish consulate. Contacts with these delegations were frequent during the independence referendum, and now, with Brexit on the table and Scotland´s intention to remain in the EU, will be so again.

The president of the European Commission assured that receiving the Prime Minister of Scotland does not mean that Brussels wants to interfere in the political process regarding the disconnection with the United Kingdom. Europe —Juncker made clear— will negotiate with London. "Neither Donald Tusk (President of the European Council) nor I have any intention of interfering in a British process: it is not our obligation nor our job", he said.

François Hollande, President of France, sided with Rajoy, but was more moderate than the PP leader. Along the same lines as Juncker, Hollande said that the EU will only negotiate with the United Kingdom, but admitted that Scotland has a right to be heard.

Veto to Puigdemont and Mas

Just two months ago, Juncker —who yesterday recognized the right of the Scottish government to be heard in Brussels— refused to meet with the President of the Generalitat, Carles Puigdemont, during his first visit to Brussels. He did the same with Artur Mas during the first months of the Catalan process. Mariano Rajoy´s administration --of the same political leanings as Juncker-- had worked behind the scenes to block any dialogue between the government of the Generalitat and high-level European institutions.

Since the start of the independence process, no president of the Generalitat has been able to meet with any European leaders. Yesterday Scotland, willing to hold a new referendum for its independence, was able to get Brussels to open its doors. The Scottish government has an advantage: no EU leader wants the United Kingdom to leave. For Scotland or Gibraltar to remain would be a victory for Brussels.

European leaders call for unity and reflection on the European project after Brexit

The first informal European summit without the United Kingdom ended yesterday with a joint statement in which the leaders expressed their "determination to remain united" and called for "political reflection to boost" the European project.

The heads of state and government leaders reiterated their demand for the United Kingdom to request the break with the EU as soon as possible, and warned that London will not continue within the common market without concessions. “You cannot expect to be granted deferential access to the EU’s single market", said Donald Tusk, President of the European Council. The leaders, without David Cameron, will meet again on September 16th in Bratislava.

Despite Cameron assuring in Brussels on Tuesday that he wanted a constructive and amicable divorce, he hinted yesterday that things will not be so easy. During question time in parliament, Cameron implied that EU residents in Britain might end up as hostages to give him more bargaining power in future negotiations with Brussels, reported Quim Aranda. "I´ve heard members of the Leave campaign stress that the people who are already here, those who are already studying or working, must have their access and rights guaranteed. But for now we cannot say so; this must be decided as part of the talks that will begin soon", he said.