First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has held talks with Germany’s Europe minister in Berlin.

Sturgeon met Michael Roth on Tuesday to discuss Scotland’s place in the European Union.

It is the latest in a series of engagements between the Scottish Government and officials from EU institutions and member states.

Sturgeon said the talks in the German capital were a “constructive opportunity”.

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She said: “Today’s discussion has been a welcome and constructive opportunity to strengthen our relations to discuss the way forward for the European Union and how all voices can be heard in that process.

“Scotland chose to remain in the European Union and the solidarity shown toward Scotland as an enthusiastic part of the EU – demonstrated once again in today’s talks here in Berlin – has been very welcome.”

Roth has held his position in the German government since 2013.

He said he hopes the UK “finds a way forward” in its Brexit negotiations.

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Roth said: “This has been a very pleasant and constructive conversation between two dedicated pro-Europeans and has demonstrated once again that a degree of Europe’s strength lies in its diversity.

“I hope that the UK finds a way forward that will benefit Europe as a whole in the end.”

Following the European Union referendum result, Sturgeon said a second referendum on independence was “highly likely”.

She said: “One of the options Scotland may want to consider is the option of becoming an independent country and seeking to remain a member of the EU in that way.

“But let me stress that is only one option, and it is not my starting point in the various discussions that I am having.”

Ms Sturgeon dismissed suggestions that Spain may block Scotland’s EU membership to quell nationalist ambitions in Catalonia.

She added: “The situation Scotland finds itself in is not going to be replicated elsewhere, unless Spain suddenly decides it wants to leave the EU, and I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon.

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“So Scotland is in a unique position and the UK, of course, is in a unique position right now and I think in these circumstances it’s important to keep an open mind to possible solutions that might be possible.

“I don’t suggest that any of these solutions will be easy or that there are any obvious ways forward for this situation, but I want to take the time to have the discussions to explore what is possible.

“In terms of the wider EU – and certainly this is the view that I felt when I was in Brussels – I would have thought it was very positive for the wider EU for a part of the UK, if not the whole of the UK, to want to stay and continue to be part of the European family of nations.”

The SNP’s Holyrood manifesto at May’s election said the UK leaving the European Union would represent a “significant and material change” in the circumstances of Scotland’s decision to remain in the UK in 2014.