EU LEADERS would "want to see Scotland as a member" if the country becomes independent, MSPs heard today. But Scotland is likely to lose out on the UK's multi-billion pound budget rebate and its demands for greater fishing rights, a group of experts warned Holyrood's European committee. The Scottish Government's claim that the country will become a full EU member within 18 months of independence was also dismissed as "unrealistic." The European issue has been at the centre of the referendum debate with the SNP insisting that Scotland would remain a member and renegotiate its terms of membership after a Yes vote. EU leaders have indicated an independent Scotland would not be a member of the Union at its inception, but would find itself negotiating membership as part of the UK rather than as a completely new member. Former civil servant David Crawley said it is likely Scotland would be outside the EU after independence, forcing the new country to apply to join. But Crawley said: "I do think that in very broad terms, the institutions of the EU - the Commission, Parliament and for the most part the Council - would want to see Scotland be a member of the European Union." He said it is "impossible" to guarantee this and said the SNP's proposed 18 month timetable for negotiating its membership from the point of the referendum in September this year to independence day in March 2016 was "unrealistic." It is more likely to take at least two years, and possibly longer, he added. Mr Crawley, who headed up the Scotland Office's Brussels headquarters from 2005/06 said: "It's not going to be a difficult thing for Scotland to survive with a degree of prosperity in a larger Europe as long as it can manage to align its interests with others." The SNP Government is hoping to retain its share of the UK's current £3 billion budget rebate when it joins the EU and also take control over the management of fishing quotas. But both of these scenarios would require the agreement of all 28 members of the EU and Mr Crawley said these would be "difficult areas" for Scotland to secure a deal. John Bachter, Director of European Policies research centre at the University of Strathclyde, also played down the prospect. "I think its difficult to see a scenario where other member states would agree to an application of the rebate because the UK is constantly isolated in negotiations," he said. Forced EU exit "unlikely," MSPs told No Russia approach from UK on referendum, claim Downing St