MORE STUFF RATTLING DOWN...

This in the Guardian!

The European Commission has clarified today (Monday) that its president, Jose Manuel Barroso, "did not want to interfere in the democratic process in place" in Scotland and Catalonia. Barroso warned on Sunday in an interview with the BBC to be "extremely difficult, if not impossible" that a country obtains the endorsement of 28 independent member states to stay in the EU.

He gave the example of Kosovo and the refusal to recognize the secession by Spain.

EU spokeswoman, Pia Ahrenkilde, clarified that Barroso "would not suggest" that the Serbian exprovíncia "was a perfect analogy" for Scotland or Catalonia, only that the case "illustrates the possible difficulties and uncertainties".

Scotland and Catalonia have again focused much of Monday's press conference day of the European Commission. The spokesman had to respond to six questions about the BBC interview in which Barroso said that Kosovo "is a somewhat similar case."

Ahrenkilde said that Barroso "repeatedly said he did not want to interfere in the democratic process in place."

 

Some old Lord called Jay, the daughter of Jim
Callaghan tells us that Yes may mean No.

"We cannot know in advance what the outcome and this is what the president meant," he insisted Ahrenkilde, trying to downplay the statements. According to his spokesman, Barroso under no circumstances "did he imply" Kosovo "was a perfect analogy."

"It was used only to illustrate the difficulties and uncertainties which could arise" in the process Scottish or Catalan. "But he did not want to interfere in the democratic process in place, it was just an illustrative example," argued Ahrenkilde.

The Danish spokesman reiterated that the EU executive "only expressed its opinion on the legal consequences for the EU" independence of Scotland or Catalonia "if a member state asks a scenario." Ahrenkilde denied that the European Commission is preparing to report and stated that despite the controversial statements Barroso, "there is no detailed analysis or opinion." "These are matters of internal constitutional order of member states," he added. (We all know that the UK has refused to ask for an opinion, despite the FM writing to Cameron to ask him to do so, because it reckons it would be favourable to us... and that would never do!)

Francie and Jose, without Francie

Meanwhile an article in the staunchly unionist Guardian written by their ex-European editor, describes about Barroso's vision of Scotland being ejected from the EU as politically maladroit, and goes on to say that his comments are "as ludicrous as his record in office".

To add to the rattling down, Professor David Edward, an ex-judge of the European Court, and now a Professor Emeritus of the University of Edinburgh, where he was Salvesen Professor of European Institutions and Director of the Europa Institute from 1985 to 1989, has rejected Barroso's view. Amazingly this has been covered by the BBC!

One of the best commentaries on this Barroso's pronouncements has been Iain MacWhirter's.

I know Andrew Marr is ailing and perhaps not as energetic as he used to be in his questioning since his stroke, but did none of the comments of these people pop into his, or his researchers' heads when they were preparing for this interview?

I love it when a series of Cameron's plans rattle down...as they inevitably do... as the truth starts to emerge.

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