Rajoy rejects Sturgeon’s EU bid
Rajoy responds to Sturgeons meeting with EU officials by dismissing her hope that Scotland could join the EU after Brexit
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 the United Kingdom,” he told a news conference following a summit of European leaders in Brussels.
“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,” he added. Madrid has a troubled relationship with the separatist inclinations of Catalonia.
Sturgeon said she was not surprised at the Spanish position, adding:
I have a duty as first minister to find a way to give effect to the democratic will of Scotland.