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A FORMER Labour first minister has rubbished claims an independent Scotland would find it “almost impossible” to get into the EU.

Henry McLeish said European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso made a “monumental blunder” when he made the remarks on Sunday.

Barroso was also slated by ex-European Court judge Sir David Edward, who branded his comments “absurd”.

EU membership is seen as vital for an independent Scotland as it allows lucrative trade links with Europe and provides support for the agriculture industry.

The Scottish Government’s White Paper claims Scotland would negotiate a “smooth transition” so we would be a full EU member on the first day of independence on March 24, 2016.

But Barroso said Spain had blocked Kosovo becoming an EU member, adding: “It’s to some extent a similar case because it’s a new country and so I believe it’s going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible.”

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But McLeish last night said Barroso was dead wrong about Scotland’s potential EU status.

He added: “Manuel Barroso has made a monumental blunder in his remarks about Scotland and membership of the EU.

“He has either been misled into making such inaccurate comments or does not understand the context or the nature of the debate.”

McLeish cited documents drawn up by the European commissioner for enlargement which say: “The EU are open to all democratic countries that wish to join.”

He said: “It is clear that if Scotland becomes independent then an application to join the EU will be straightforward.

“Membership of the EU will not present significant difficulties.”

Sir David said Scotland’s EU membership would be negotiated from within to avoid millions of Scots suddenly ceasing to be EU citizens.

He said: “There would be a legal obligation to negotiate the outcome to avoid the absurdity that just at the stroke of midnight everything comes to an end.”

But PM David Cameron backed Barroso, saying: “An independent Scotland would have to apply to join the EU in the usual way.”