Alex Salmond's new political movement has downplayed the prospect of an independent Scotland joining the EU in the immediate future.
Launching the Alba Party's manifesto for next month's Holyrood election, the former first minister said today he would demand negotiations on leaving the UK should begin in the first week of the new parliament - but made no mention of rejoining Brussels.
Salmond candidly admitted the manifesto "was not comprehensive" as his new party was only launched last month.
While achieving independence remains Alba's core aim, it is far cooler on the subject of rejoining the European Union than the SNP.
Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly said Scotland should rejoin Brussels at the earliest opportunity and campaigned under the slogan "Stop Brexit" ahead of the 2019 General Election.
EU membership was also the cornerstone of the SNP's strategy for achieving independence during Salmond's two spells as SNP leader.
Since the UK's departure from the Euro bloc in the wake of Brexit, the SNP has insisted Scotland could smoothly rejoin on its own.
But the Alba Party manifesto said it could "be a matter of years" for Scotland to be accepted and calls for membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) to be given priority instead.
It states: "In 2014 Scotland would have started negotiations on the independence settlement from within not just the European Union, but the single market and customs union.
"In 2021, the context is totally different. European access will have to be negotiated from the outside.
"Scotland could reasonably expect to go through an accelerated process of accession, but this would still be a matter of years not months."
It adds: "Nor would negotiations be easy, with Scotland, unless taking action to find a secure starting position, being forced to negotiate from a position of weakness, not strength."
Launching the document in a pre-recorded speech, Salmond said his party would "inject a sense of urgency into the independence debate."
He added: "We'll do that every day we're in parliament.
"Pressuring a pro-independence Scottish Government to get a move on and holding it to account if it doesn't."
Salmond also took a swipe at the SNP and the Scottish Greens – the latter of whom he has previously accused of being “as weak as dishwater” on independence.
During a five-minute manifesto launch speech which was mostly about independence, and after which he did not take questions, Salmond said Alba has a “proper plan” for Scotland to leave the union.
He said: “Without doubt, it’s the one manifesto which is taking Scottish independence seriously, with urgency, with a proper plan on how to deliver independence for Scotland through a referendum or another agreed democratic test.
“But also how to be properly prepared to build Scotland and the Scottish people the case they deserve to hear to reach the determination and a successful independence process.”
Earlier in the address, Mr Salmond said his party had been set up to “bring urgency into the timetable” for delivering independence, and he vowed there would be “no more backsliding on timetables” if Alba is part of the “supermajority” of MSPs elected in support of independence.
With Alba’s highest return in opinion polls giving them six seats after May 6, Mr Salmond said: “Alba aren’t standing to be a government, we’re standing to be in a position to push the government further than it would otherwise go.”
He added that Alba MSPs would show “courage, not caution”.
