202200285827 · FOI · partially withheld
Correspondence between Scottish Government and EU officials regarding independent Scotland joining EU, May 2016 to May 2021: FOI release
Information requested
Covering the dates 5 May 2016 to 5 May 2021:
All correspondence between Scottish Government ministers and civil servants with ministers, civil servants and diplomats in EU 27 countries, regarding the possibility of a future independent Scotland joining the EU.
All correspondence between Scottish Government ministers and civil servants with officials and members of the European Commission and officials and members of the European parliament, regarding the possibility of a future independent Scotland joining the EU.
Response
Some of the information you have requested includes the 2016-2017 Programme for Government which is available from our website: A plan for Scotland: the Scottish Government's programme for Scotland 2016-2017. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
An exemption(s) under section 38 (1)(b) personal information of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested as this includes the names and contact details of correspondents and Scottish Government officials.
This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. An exemption(s) under section 38 (1)(b) personal information of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested as this includes the names and contact details of correspondents and Scottish Government officials. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.