An independent Scotland undoubtedly needs to be a part of Europe.
EFTA/EEA membership offers virtually all of the benefits which EU membership would offer, and would do so in a much shorter timescale and without the significant los sof sovereignty entailed in EU membership.Furthermore, membership of the EU would require that Scotland comply with a number of economic accession conditions which are directly contrary to the pressing need to invest in state infrastructure, typical of any newly independent state.
In addition, as an EU member Scotland would need to adhere to the CAP and CFP in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, which would almost certainly not be in Scotland’s interests.These strategic sectors are specifically excluded from the EEA agreement,and Scotland would retain complete control over them acting in its own national interests–in the same way as applies to Norway and Iceland,EFTA/EEA countries.
It has become very clear that a newly independent Scotland should choose to become re-integrated into Europe via immediate membership of EFTA and early membership of the EEA in the relatively short term of 2-3 years.
But there is one final point about this recommended path which more than clinches the argument,should it need to be clinched. This requires us to picture our independent Scotland, ten years or so down the line, as a prospering member of EFTA,integrated into the European market via the EEA, and making a social and cultural contribution to Europe and the world. The EU will probably have grown in membership, and evolved further as a multi-state political grouping, but, as now is not without its faults and problems.At that point Scotland will still have the option on whether to apply to join the EU.
But crucial also at that point, Scotland will be in a position to make an informed and non-partisan decision about whether to apply to join the EU. If Scotland decides to apply for membership, has gone through the accession process,and negotiated membership terms,then the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to make a fully informed decision,in a referendum, about whether or not to join the EU. Joining EFTA and the EEA, the preferred short to medium term option, does not close the door to EU membership in the medium to long term, should that be the clear democratically expressed will of the people of Scotland