Humza Yousaf's plans to rejoin EU facing setback (Image: Getty)

       The EU has dealt a blow to the SNP's efforts to rejoin the bloc. Despite the party unveiling a plan for an independent Scotland within the EU, a German MEP has declared that there fast track paths for Scotland's EU membership.

       However, Terry Reintke, co-chair of the European Greens/European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament, stated that if Scotland seeks independence, it must follow the standard procedure and join the queue with the other eight candidate countries seeking EU membership.

       Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine are currently on the list of candidates.

       Several of these candidate countries have been waiting on membership for many years.

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       Turkey for example first applied to join the European Economic Community in 1987.

       READ MORE: EU budget in peril as bloc set to place staggering 12 countries on 'watch list'

       Reintke said: "The question on the independence of Scotland is for the people in Scotland to decide and I will not take a position on it.

       "However, if Scotland were to became an independent country, they would be welcomed back with open arms into the European Union.

       "Of course, they would have to pass the same process as other candidate states, but since Scotland previously applied the full acquis I would expect this process to go much faster.

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       "The people of Scotland could count on myself and many other MEPs' support in this process."

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       The SNP's most recent EU re-entry strategy was outlined in the Building a New Scotland report series.

       The Scottish Government has stated its intention to use Article 49 as a "tried and tested" route to EU membership.

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