Spain and France KILL OFF Nicola Sturgeon’s hopes of joining the EU in brutal humiliation
NICOLA STURGEON’s bid to keep Scotland in the EU ended in humiliation today after European leaders told the Scottish First Minister they will not cut her a special deal.
By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL REPORTER
Express.co.uk
Wed, Jun 29, 2016
The SNP leader had travelled to Brussels today in the hope of holding talks with Brussels chiefs over retaining Scotland’s EU membership, in defiance of last week’s Brexit vote.
But both France and Spain shot down her plans to negotiate a way for Scotland to remain part of the bloc.
Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy said Ms Sturgeon’s Scottish Government is not authorised to barter with other EU member states.
Following a summit of 27 EU leaders in Brussels, he told a news conference: “I want to be very clear Scotland does not have the competence to negotiate with the European Union.
“Spain opposes any negotiation by anyone other than the government of United Kingdom.”
He added: “I am extremely against it, the treaties are extremely against it and I believe everyone is extremely against it. If the United Kingdom leaves… Scotland leaves.”
French president Francois Hollande backed up his Spanish counterpart, insisting exit talks will only be held with the UK Government and not the Holyrood administration.
He said: “The negotiations will be conducted with the UK, not with a part of the UK.”
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