An independent Scotland would be "legally committed" to adopting the Euro if it applied to join the European Union, a Brussels spokeswoman has confirmed.
But that does not mean the country would be forced to use the single currency as a condition of membership, they added.
Nicola Sturgeon announced earlier this month that Scotland would continue to use the pound if a majority voters backed independence in the future. A new currency - a Scottish pound - would later be adopted if strict economic criteria were met, a process which could take years.
Opposition parties and some pro-independence campaigners have criticised the proposals and claimed they were incompatible with Sturgeon's aim of Scotland rejoining the EU.
An unnamed EU source told The Times last week it would be "no Euro, no entry" for an independent Scotland, with another three reported to have backed the view.
In a noisy exchange during First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross asked Sturgeon: "Who’s lying to the Scottish people, the European Union or Nicola Sturgeon?”
The SNP leader quoted a number of sources, including former prime minister David Cameron and the ex-president of the European Commission, as holding a different view to that of the sources quoted in the Times.
She added: "Many countries in the European Union still use their own currency. Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Sweden – a member state since 1995 still uses its own currency.”
But the spokeswoman for economic affairs at the European Commission in Brussels has set out the official position to the Herald on Sunday.
They said: "In principle, all EU member states, except Denmark which has an opt-out clause, are legally committed to join the Euro area once they fulfil the necessary conditions. It is up to individual countries to calibrate their path towards the Euro and no timetable is prescribed."
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: "This is another huge blow to Nicola Sturgeon’s independence plans.
"It is clear that it was misleading to suggest that a separate Scotland could join the EU without committing to join the euro
"The SNP’s policies on the economy and currency are a complete farce. By remaining as a central part of the UK, Scotland will continue using the pound while trading freely with far-and-away our most valued market."
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