Publication

This paper discusses the marked wariness at EU level about the prospect of Scottish independence. Commentators have been quick to put this down to a fear of 'independence contagion' on the part of countries like Spain. Instead, argue the authors, much of the nervousness is due to the emergence of tricky instances of 'multi-speed' integration and the fear of having two tricky members at the EU's western periphery instead of one. Ironically perhaps, British-style constitutional thinking on flexibility could prove useful in reducing the bloc's difficulties with asymmetry that motivate its hostility towards Scottish independence, conclude the authors.