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Implications for Scotland of leaving the EU

The EU referendum on 23 June 2016 across the UK (52% Leave; 48% Remain) produced a very different result from that of voters in Scotland (62% Remain; 38% Leave). Scotland’s role in the decision to leave the EU has been the subject of considerable scrutiny in that context. The UK Government’s position consistently has been that a decision was taken by the UK as a whole, international relations is a reserved matter, and Scotland must leave the EU, its single market and its customs union on the same terms as the rest of the UK.

Beyond renewed calls from the Scottish Government for a second independence referendum, which the UK Government has rejected, there are many as of yet unanswered questions as to the implications of “Brexit” for Scotland and its devolution settlement. This debate pack provides an overview of the key issues at stake, which include:

• what the UK/Scotland’s future relationship should be with the EU and its institutions;
• what role the devolved institutions should play in the process of leaving the EU;
• what should happen to the powers currently exercised by the EU that intersect with devolved policy areas; and
• what changes, if any, should be made to Scotland's devolution settlement as a consequence of leaving the EU and its institutions.