Ehmmmm not quite right on Spain and EU membership for Scotland David. At the time of the referendum their Foreign Minister stated that he would not comment on it one way or the other.

There are I think six countries in the EU who would block an independent Scotland's entry due to the influence that would have on minorities within their own borders (Even in the EU Member States best national interests will "trump" the ideology of the EU Commission)

In Spain IF Catalonia goes ahead and secedes that will be 25% of the wealth of Spain gone, it is one of the most industrialised parts of Spain. They will find themselves out of the EU without a currency of their own - exactly the same as an independent Scotland would find themselves. From that as a start point neither would be a member of the EU for a further 10 to 15 years. |IF Catalonia goes for independence from Spain, a much poorer Spain will face calls from two other regions The Basque region and Galicia for either greater autonomy or independence. The EU will have to decide which to back, they will more like as not have to back Spain, as they appear to be doing now.