Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of European Commission, has agreed to “listen” to the case for Scotland to be allowed to remain in the European Union despite the Brexit referendum vote.
Nicola Sturgeon has said she faces a “challenge” to keep Scotland in the EU as European Council president Donald Tusk has said it would not be “appropriate” to discuss the country’s future at this time.
The Scottish First Minister met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday evening after meeting with the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz.
Mr Juncker held talks with Ms Sturgeon about her idea for Scotland to remain, a plan based on current arrangements for Denmark.
Continental Denmark is in the EU, but the country also includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are not.
Ms Sturgeon has vowed to keep Scotland, which voted Remain during the referendum last week, in the European Union and has called for a second referendum on Scottish independence.
Speaking to reporters following her meeting with Mr Schulz, she said they were “at an early stage of this process”.
She said: “I have set out Scotland’s desire to protect our relationship with the European Union, I don’t underestimate the challenges that lie ahead for us in seeking to find a path.
“This is very much an initial meeting and a series of meetings in Brussels today”.
She said she wanted to make clear “that Scotland, unlike other parts of the United Kingdom, doesn’t want to leave the European Union”.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said he would oppose any EU talks with Scotland.

Source: Independent, 29 June 2016