“In my discussions during the day, I’ve heard, as you would expect, deep concern about the impact of the referendum not just on the Scotland, the United Kingdom and the European institutions, but on people in all our countries and on the EU itself”.
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Most Scots voted to remain in the European Union in last Thursday’s referendum.
European Union leaders reacted frostily to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, but an application to rejoin after Brexit has received more sympathy.
“Our early priority has been to ensure that there is a widespread awareness across Europe of Scotland’s different choice in the referendum and of our aspiration to stay in the EU”, Sturgeon told the Scottish parliament.
Sturgeon said she was unsurprising by the Spanish reaction, though she also mockingly called Rajoy the “acting prime minister”, a reference to Spain’s contested Sunday election.
Mr Juncker is to have talks with Ms Sturgeon about her idea for Scotland to remain, which is based on current arrangements for Denmark.
“If there is a way for Scotland to stay I am determined to find that way”, she said.
Brexit has resulted in an increase in support for Scottish independence, a new opinion poll has indicated.
The survey for the Daily Mail found 47% would vote Yes in a second independence referendum, with 41% for No and 12% undecided.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has set up a “standing council” of experts to provide her with advice following the Brexit vote.
Asked on BBC television whether she would consider asking the Scottish Parliament to block a motion of legislative consent, Sturgeon said: “Of course”. “Spain opposes any negotiation by anyone other than the government of United Kingdom”, said Rajoy during a press conference on Wednesday.
But she has scored a meeting with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
Sturgeon appeared before cameras after she made her case to European Union officials on Wednesday evening and said she received a “sympathetic” response from European Union officials.
Even though the president of the European Council Donald Tusk refused to take a meeting – saying it would not be appropriate at this time.
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Boris Johnson, the favourite to become Britain’s next prime minister, said on Sunday that he did not detect “any real appetite” for another Scottish independence referendum.
