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EU diplomats yesterday welcomed Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for an independent Scotland in Europe.

Austrian and Czech consuls, who represent their countries in Scotland, spoke out after meeting the First Minister for talks on the Brexit fallout.

They were among 18 foreign officials at Bute House in Edinburgh discussing how leaving the EU will affect their citizens who live and work in the country.

(Image: Getty)

And they struck a different tone than in 2014 when SNP leaders were effectively shut out of European talks. During the independence referendum, senior EU officials either kept quiet or said Scotland would have to join the back of the queue.

Yesterday, Austrian honorary consul John Clifford said the Scottish Government’s approach has been “refreshing”.

He said: “It’s an internal matter for the UK and we’d make no comment.

(Image: Getty)

“However, it is clear that were Scotland to be independent, it would be welcome in the EU. There would be no question about that.”

Dr Paul Millar, the honorary consul general of the Czech Republic, went further by saying he personally supports Scottish independence.Millar said: “It’s a nation, if the nation decides in a referendum, fair enough.”

He added that Czech citizens who may be worried about their future in Scotland should “stay cool”.

The Czech ambassador is in Scotland today to meet External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

Other diplomats, including the Polish and Belgian consuls, admitted there are serious concerns among all non-UK EU citizens. But none said there had been any increase in race-hate crimes being reported.

Afterwards, Sturgeon said: “This uncertainty the EU nationals are living with could be ended at a stroke if the UK Government and all of the candidates for prime minister said their right to live here was guaranteed regardless of what happens in the EU negotiations.

“It’s regrettable that hasn’t happened on the part of everybody and I call again on the UK Government to give that categoric guarantee to people who have built their lives here, who’ve got jobs here, pay taxes here, raised families here.”

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Sturgeon also hosted talks with the UK Government’s Scottish Secretary, David Mundell, and business leaders.

Mundell said: “The message is that Scottish businesses want the UK and Scottish governments to work closely together as part of a Team UK to find a constructive way forward.”