All assessments suggest Scotland could re-join the EU in 2-5 years after independence is regained.

Getting back in the EU

There are many reasons why Scotland should be able to join the EU quite quickly after independence. Consider how long other countries have taken to complete accession, and compare their starting positions with Scotlands:

• Acquis will be easy following >40 yr aligned to EU rules.
• Scotland’s entry will be considered good for Europe – it is a modern economy, well-educated society, with large renewable resources.
• A large majority in Scotland are in favour of re-entry.
• Assuming independence was gained legally, an “enthusiastic welcome” has already been flagged by the EU.

“Acquis” is the process of aligning a nation’s laws with the EU’s rules.

Note – it is a commonly held myth that the Euro must be adopted as soon as a country joins the EU. The timescales for this are dictated by “when the country is ready” – and in many cases, and after many years, many countries are still not ready. Adopting the Euro will not be forced on Scotland – this is not the EU process.