2016-06-26 18:39:00

Scotland threatens to veto British exit from EU


(Vatican Radio)  Scotland's first minister says she believes the Scottish parliament could veto Britain's planned exit from the European Union. Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement Sunday just days after a slight majority of British voters backed a Brexit in a nationwide referendum, a move that sent jitters through former Communist countries on EU's fringe, including Ukraine.

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

Sturgeon confirmed that she would consider asking Scottish legislators not to back a motion of legislative consent to Britain's exit from the European Union. The bombshell announcement by the pro-EU leader would effectively amount to a Scottish veto of Brexit.

She told the BBC network, however, that the Scottish parliament is entitled to make such decisions. "The issue you are talking about is would there have to be a legislative consent motion or motions for the legislation that extricates the UK from the European Union?", she said. 

"Looking at it from a logical perspective, I find it hard to believe that there wouldn't be that requirement - I suspect that the UK government will take a very different view on that and we'll have to see where that discussion ends up."

Pro-Europe

She was speaking after Thursday's referendum which saw Britain vote by 52 percent to leave the EU. In Scotland the picture was totally different with 62 percent wanting to Remain in the still 28 nation bloc.

Sturgeon has also said that it is "highly likely" that Scotland will hold a second independence referendum because of Britain's decision to withdraw from the EU.

Brexit has added to concerns among European leaders that more countries will follow Britain's example.  Former communist countries seeking closer ties are particularly concerned, such as Ukraine, which is seeking membership.

Kiev fears Brexit could weaken Brussels' support for Ukraine and undermine its efforts to stand up to Russia. President Petro Poroshenko has urged the EU to maintain sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and alleged military support for pro-Russian separatists.

And Prime Minister Volodymur Groysman appealed to Europe not to forget that "Ukraine suffered for its European choice".

Many killed

That was a reference to the more than a hundred people who were killed in and around Kyiv’s central Independence Square, known as the Maidan, during protests that led to the ouster of Russian-backed president Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014.

Ukrainian authorities say they have detained four former officers of the "Berkut" riot police for their alleged role in the violent dispersal of pro-European protesters.

They were charged with abuse of power, attempted murder, and illegally preventing citizens from gathering and demonstrating.

One of the suspects was also charged with the premeditated murder of more than one person.








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