SCOTLAND would “easily fulfil the criteria for joining the European Union”, according to a leading MEP who said he would “love” to see the country become a new member state.

Christophe Hansen gave his views at a press conference hosted in Portugal which also heard from the European Parliament’s vice-president Pedro Silva Pereira and the EU’s ambassador to the UK Joao Vale de Almeida – who indicated he was watching events in Scotland closely with a visit planned soon.

Hansen, a member of the European People’s Party (EPP), is the rapporteur – or convener – of the parliament’s international trade committee on the EU-UK Trade Agreement.

The National asked Hansen and the two other panel members whether the EU would welcome back Scotland pointing out the country voted to remain in the EU in 2016.

Hansen, whose EPP is the largest party in the European Parliament, responded: “If you would ask me personally I would love that Scotland could join the European Union again. I think Scotland could easily fulfil the criteria for joining the European Union.”

He went on to say that he recognised an “independence referendum” would “probably be necessary” and that “a lot of pre work” needed to be done.

The Luxembourg politician said: “On the other side I think it is not a decision that is going to be made in the first place by the European Union. I think there is some homework because of this independence referendum which would probably be necessary.

“There is as well [the challenge] by London. So there is a lot of homework that needs to be done back there. But once this is done I think most Europeans would be glad, me personally as well, but there is a lot of pre work that needs to be done and I think it will be a very tricky exercise nonetheless.”

The EU ambassador to the UK Joao Vale de Almeida signalled he was keeping a close watch on events in Scotland and said he was hoping to visit the country shortly.

“Let me say the following. First of all we have enormous respect, appreciation and friendship with all our friends in Scotland, those who support the European Union and are committed to European affairs at all levels from business to universities to think tanks.

“Part of my role and a real pleasure is to keep very close contact with all our friends in Scotland. And I hope to physically visit Scotland very soon. I have been in a virtual visit but not a physical one yet,” he said.

“This being said there is a clear role for any diplomats you don’t comment on hypothetical scenarios and the scenario you outlined is at the moment, at least, a hypothetical one.”

The comments mark a change of tone from EU figures since ahead of the 2014 referendum when the European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said it would be “extremely difficult, if not impossible” for an independent Scotland to join the EU.

The EU operates approval procedures that ensure new members are admitted only when they can demonstrate they meet certain criteria.

The European Commission sets out its rules for joining in what is known as the “Copenhagen criteria” after they were defined at the European Council in the Danish capital in 1993. They say that countries wishing to join need to have:

- Stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;

- A functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competition and market forces in the EU;

- The ability to take on and implement effectively the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.

Other issues discussed are financial arrangements – such as how much the new member is likely to pay into and receive from the EU budget and transitional arrangements – sometimes certain rules are phased in gradually, to give the new member or existing members time to adapt.

Pereira said discussions about Scotland’s possible re-entry to the EU could only happen at a European institution level once there had been a second independence referendum which changed the result from the 2014 vote.

“Let me tell you that first thing’s first,” said the parliament’s vice-president who is rapporteur of the committee on constitutional affairs’ on the implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.

“Of course we can only discuss at the level of the European institutions these kinds of issues after we have a referendum in Scotland changing the decisions of the previous referendum.

“So there is no decision to be taken by European institutions on that at this stage.

“The only thing I can say is that we all know that an accession to the European Union requires a unanimous decision.

“It is a political process. But as I said first thing first.

“I believe there are some political internal discussions to be held in Scotland and in the UK before we reach the debate on the issue you have raised.”

THE press conference, attended mostly by journalists from Portugal, took place on Thursday, the day after the European Parliament voted by a large margin to give the EU’s final approval to the Brexit deal. Some 660 MEPs voted in favor, with five against and 32 abstentions.

During the debate MEPs expressed considerable concerns about the trustworthiness of the current UK government to carry out its side of the Brexit bargain, including the trade deal that was just approved.

The agreement, which governs trade and customs issues and provides for zero tariffs and zero quotas, has been applied conditionally since the beginning of the year. It leaves out key issues such as financial services and foreign and security policy.

Debates and consultations over how best to implement the trade deal and the general withdrawal agreement are continuing.

As revealed by The National on Thursday, around 200 prominent cultural figures across the continent called on EU leaders to welcome Scotland back into the EU and to say they will do so before a future independence referendum.

Last month a leading official signalled Brussels would look favourably on an independent Scotland joining the bloc.

Michael Mann, the EU’s envoy to the Arctic, also said the new state could benefit from a speedier membership process than other countries, such as former communist states.

SCOTLAND voted by 62% to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum but was forced to leave at the end of last year as the UK as a whole voted to exit.

The Conservative government rejected calls by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for the UK to stay in the single market or to allow for a special arrangement for Scotland to remain in it.

Northern Ireland was given a bespoke arrangement giving it closer ties with the single market to avoid a hard border with the Irish Republic. However the protocol, negotiated by Boris Johnson, has led to more customs checks with Britain causing Unionist tensions and rioting in Belfast.

Both the SNP and the Greens want an independent Scotland to join the EU, while Alex Salmond’s Alba Party advocates joining the European Free Trade Association which allows members full access to the single market.

Former communist countries which are now EU members include Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.