Joining EU would mean checks but no need for passports, says expert
Checkpoints along the border between Scotland and England would be required if an independent Scotland joined the European Union – but it would be unlikely that people would have to show their pass ports, a leading academic has said.
Professor NicolaMcewen, co-director of the Centre on Constitutional Change at the University of Ed inburgh, said there was “no getting away from the fact” that an independent Scotland rejoining the EU would lead to frontier checkpoints.
Speaking at a fringe meeting at the SNP conference in Aberdeen, she said the 96- mile-long border had about 25 crossing points that would each need their own infrastructure so checks on goods entering the EU single market could be carried out.
She said the b order with England would be“the biggest challenge” facing an independent Scotland if the SNP followed its policy of rejoining the EU after a Yes vote.
“If Scotland is to become independent in the EU, there is an obligation to manage that b order to ensure that things crossing theb order, entering the EU via that border, are eligible to enter, are eligible to trade within the EU single market ,” she added. “There is no getting away from the fact that there would have to be border checks.”
ProfMcEwens aid the challenge of creating checkpoints was “not insurmountable”. But she added: “On the other hand, it’s an awful lot of traffic togo through not very many crossing points, so there would inevitably be pressures on trade crossing that border.”
At the same fringe event, Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson said it was his “expectation” that an in depen dent Scotland would remain part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) – already recognised within the EU treaties – which allows British and Irish citizens to move freely between each nation.