Former first minister Alex Salmond has acknowledged an independent Scotland would “not necessarily” remain part of the EU.
The Gordon MP said Nicola Sturgeon had always put “primacy” on the single market place and being a member of the European Economic Area (EEA).
His intervention came as reports – denied by the SNP – emerged that the first minister will attempt to get an independent Scotland into the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), rather than apply to become a full EU member.
This includes Norway and Iceland and participates in the single market.
In his weekly radio interview, Mr Salmond said: “The argument for (a referendum) within the next two years is to say that will allow us to have continuous membership of the EEA, not necessarily the EU incidentally.
“Nicola Sturgeon has been very exact in how she has pitched her tent to say the crucial thing is the EEA in that timescale.
“She has been clear we want Scotland to be an independent country within the EU, but let’s see what the offer that comes forward is.”
Scottish Conservative Leader Ruth Davidson said Ms Sturgeon’s grounds for a second referendum had “simply given away beneath her”.
She added: “If European Union membership is the reason for a referendum, what is the point of holding one if the plan isn’t go back in?”
But an SNP spokesman rejected the claims as the “height of hypocrisy and absurdity”.
He added: “Our longstanding position is EU membership, and that remains the case.”