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Belgiums biggest political party, currently involved in protracted government coalition talks after elections in May, is a New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), a separatist movement led by Bart De Wever who is a populist in the mould of Alex Salmond.

De Wever wants an independent Flemish nation in Europe at large. But would the same nationalist movements, which are very independent thinking, just accept the European majority rules? Europe as we know it, does not work with peoples who govern themselves like that, said Mr De Gucht.

The commissioner also hinted that dire warnings about the future of EU membership for an independent Scotland were because we had to tell them it was difficult. As part of the United Kingdom there is European legislation already in place, he claimed according to reports, comments that will add weight to SNP accusations of scaremongering by Europes political establishment.

The No vote is a big relief for the EU particularly amid concerns over Catalan plans to hold a unilateral referendum in six weeks time, potentially leading to the break up of Spain.

Artur Mas, the Catalan leader, will hold a press conference at midday in the wake of the defeat for Scottish independence, a result that will set back Catalonia's nationalists.

He is expected to shrug off the No vote and insist that Scotland's referendum remains the model as Catalan separatists continue to defy Spain's central government with a planned plebiscite on 9 November.

Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, will be deeply relieved that an emergency cabinet meeting this morning will not have to deal with a Yes vote, taking some of the heat and urgency out a looming constitutional crisis.

Catalan's government had planned to push a referendum bill through its parliament today in defiance of Madrid's threat that Spain will act swiftly with full weight of law if Catalonia attempts an illegal vote to ultimately to break up the country.

Spaniards and Catalans will be watching to see how the Scottish result plays out in the hope that Catalonia blinks on the vote of that Madrid eases backs on threats to suspend the regions autonomous government.

The EU will breathe more easily as a No vote kills off the prospect of having to decide the fate of an independent Scotland and lowers the risk of the referendum triggering a wave of separatism.

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Scottish independence 'like collapse of Communism'