Barroso casts doubt on independent Scotland becoming an EU member

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said states breaking away from existing European Union countries would struggle to gain EU membership, further complicating Scottish nationalists' already uncertain plans for independence.

Barroso said in an interview it would be nearly impossible for the EU to grant membership to such states - days after the British government said an independent Scotland would not be able to keep sterling as its currency.

Scotland is due to hold a referendum on independence in September. Polls show around 29 per cent of voters in favour and 42 per cent against, with 29 per cent undecided.

Barroso, interviewed on BBC television yesterday, declined to comment directly on whether an independent Scotland would be welcome to join the EU.

But he said all EU states would need to back the membership of any new country that emerged from a current member state.

"It would be extremely difficult to get approval of all the other member states ... I believe it's going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible," he said.