Last night was the penultimate debate of the SNP Leadership candidates. However we are geeks and we love a bit of policy detail, so let us explore it.
Humza Yousaf made this claim to Ash Regan:
So you have backed EFTA over EU membership which is not of course backed by our membership.
Humza Yousaf – https://twitter.com/indyscotnews/status/1637913435751972872
However itโs worth pointing out, on page 39 of Scotlandโs Place in Europe, a document authored and prologued in Nicola Sturgeons name, this is exactly the position that was set out.
A bit of a #HumdingerForHumza there.
There are many benefits to EFTA, such as rather quick acceptance – you only need the current 4 countries of Iceland ๐ฎ๐ธ , Liechtenstein ๐ฑ๐ฎ , Norway ๐ณ๐ด and Switzerland ๐จ๐ญ to agree, and accept the rules of EFTA, that if you read the whole 62 document of the Scottish Government, we essentially do anyway.
Iceland ๐ฎ๐ธ is the closest analogue that applied in November 1968 and became active in January 1970 in EFTA. A year and one month.
Usefully Scotland ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ would have a two year transition to independence, which would be more than enough time, especially following the digital revolution since the 70s. Scotland also has the benefit of being nearly fully aligned already.
What does EFTA not include?
– Common Agricultural Policy
– Common Fisheries Policy
– Customs Union
– Foreign affairs or Security Policy
– Justice
– Monetary Union
So essentially – the controversial bits in Scotland – are already exempt from any effect of joining. Scotland can maintain its own fisheries and agricultural policy, which may be of some advantage versus EU membership.
Annual contribution would be around ยฃ10m from looking at the payments made by the current members and itโs worth noting – Austria ๐ฆ๐น , Finland ๐ซ๐ฎ and Sweden ๐ธ๐ช were all members of EFTA that later transitioned to being EU members.
It seems like a good idea.
