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The European Union stayed neutral throughout the run-up to Scotland's independence referendum, the results of which were released on Friday. Following Scottish voters' decision to remain part of the United Kingdom, many European leaders expressed relief.
European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso had drawn the ire of Scottish secessionist supporters after saying an independent Scotland would have difficulty joining the EU. He welcomed the result of Thursday's referendum, calling it a boost for a "united, open and stronger Europe."
Friday's outcome means Britain "is and will remain an important member of the European Union to the benefit of all citizens and member states," said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz said he was "relieved" by the outcome of the vote.
"I admit, I am relieved about the result," he told Deutschlandfunk radio. "The next time I meet [British Prime Minister] David Cameron, I'll tell him that I like a United Kingdom in a united Europe."
'Good decision' for Europe
Germany's foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, called Scotland's "No" to independence "a good decision for Scotland, Britain and also for Europe."
"The election result speaks for itself: the people want a strong Scotland in a strong Britain," he said ahead of a trip to the United Nations in New York.
Spain has seen a rise in separatist sentiment in Catalonia
Spain's leadership also breathed a sigh of relief on Friday. The country is currently dealing with its own separatist sentiment in Catalonia, a movement that has drawn inspiration from Scotland.
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EU leaders welcome Scottish referendum result
The European Union, or EU, welcomed Scotlands vote to reject separation from the United Kingdom in Thursdays referendum, where a "Yes" result, many worried, would set an undesirable precedent and destabilize the region.
"I welcome the decision of the Scottish people to maintain the unity of the United Kingdom. This outcome is good for the united, open and stronger Europe that the European Commission stands for, Jos Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, said in a statement on the EUs official website. The European Commission will continue to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Scottish Government, in areas under its responsibility, that are important to Scotland's future including jobs and growth, energy, climate change and the environment, and smarter regulation."
Fifty-five percent of Scottish voters chose to remain in the UK while 45 percent opted for independence in a referendum that saw almost 85 percent of the nations five million people vote.
Katrin Gring-Eckhardt, parliamentary leader of the German Green Party, said, according to BBC: "The No victory is a huge relief for me. It prevents a further fragmentation of Europe. But the close race shows that people want more participation."
Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, in a post on the BBCs website, said: "The No vote was a sound decision, adding: I believe that, in a time when sticking together has proven its worth in meeting the challenges we are facing in all walks of life, this is a sound decision.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in his post on the BBC, said he respected the Scottish peoples choice. I am confident that the United Kingdom will continue to play a leading role to keep our alliance strong.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain, where Catalonias pro-independence faction has drawn inspiration from the Scottish referendum, said it was the best result for Europe, in a video posted on the Spanish governments official website, according to a Reuters report.
"The Scottish have avoided serious economic, social, institutional and political consequences," Reuters cited Rajoy as saying on Friday. "They have chosen the most favorable option for everyone; for themselves, for all of Britain and for the rest of EU.
The Spanish government has termed unconstitutional a Nov. 9 referendum that Catalonia is looking to conduct. The Catalan regional government is expected to decide on approving a bill Friday, which would allow the referendum to be held.
Significant pro-independence movements exist in other regions including Basque, also in Spain, Flanders in Belgium, and Veneto in Italy.
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EU Welcomes Scotlands 'No' Vote In Independence Referendum
European Union and NATO officials expressed undisguised relief on Friday (19 September)at Scotland's clear vote against independence from Britain, but some fretted that the genie of separatism may be out of the bottle in Europe.
EU partners had mostly kept quiet in the run-up to Thursday's referendum, lest their fears of a break-up of the United Kingdom leading to contagion elsewhere in Europe be seized upon as interference.
But as soon as the Scottish "No" was secure, they voiced satisfaction and drew consequences for their own countries, for the 28-nation EU and for the Western alliance.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen congratulated British Prime Minister David Cameron and said he was sure the United Kingdom would continue to play a leading role in keeping the US-led defence alliance strong.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, struggling to quash an independence drive by the northwestern region of Catalonia, said the Scottish result was the best outcome for Europe.
"The Scottish have avoided serious economic, social, institutional and political consequences," he said in a video message posted on the government website. "They have chosen the most favourable option for everyone; for themselves, for all of Britain and for the rest of Europe."
Catalan nationalist leader Artur Mas was due to announce his government's plans on Friday for its own independence referendum, which the Spanish government says would be illegal.
Madrid won support from German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday when her spokesman, commenting on the Scottish vote, said Catalonia was "a completely different legal situation" and she supported Rajoy's position.
In Brussels, the European Commission said the Scottish vote was good for a "united, open and stronger Europe" - a veiled message that EU officials hope the outcome will strengthen chances of Britain voting to stay in the bloc in a promised referendum in 2017.
"The European Commission welcomes the fact that during the debate over the past years, the Scottish government and the Scottish people have repeatedly reaffirmed their European commitment," Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.
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EU and NATO breathes sigh of relief after Scotland 'No' vote
Prague,Praga
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is the fourteenth-largest city in the European Union.
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