09 Apr 2017 External Affairs Scottish Independence Green Yes

50 politicians from across Europe say independent Scotland welcome as full member of EU

50 politicians from across Europe have responded to Theresa May’s triggering of Article 50 by signing a letter claiming that an independent Scotland will be “most welcome as a full member of the European Union”. 

The letter, an initiative of Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer and German Green MEP Terry Reintke, is addressed to Holyrood and signed by parties from across the political spectrum from the EU Parliament, national and regional parliaments, assemblies and senates. It also gives a commitment to assist an independent Scotland with a “swift, smooth, and orderly” application for European Union membership.

Last month Green MSPs voted for Scotland to have its say over the Tories’ Hard Brexit, giving the Scottish Government a mandate to seek permission from the UK government to hold an independence referendum. 

Ross Greer MSP, the Scottish Greens’ external affairs spokesperson, said:

“With continuing uncertainty and an absolute lack of any clear plan from the UK government, what’s becoming clear is that there is a tremendous amount of goodwill from across the continent towards Scotland’s European aspirations. People in Scotland were told to vote against independence if they wanted to stay in the EU and now we know how wrong that was. Independence is the only way to secure a European future for Scotland.

“Furthermore, we were told that Spain would block an independent Scotland’s bid for EU membership and that we’d face being placed at the back of a mythical queue. Now we know that those No campaign arguments are not true. The only thing standing in Scotland’s way to forging links with Europe is the Westminster government. Our parliament has voted to give the people a choice over their own future and no Tory government at Westminster should stand in the way of that.”

German MEP Terry Reintke said:

“The inflammatory language we have witnessed, just one week after the official triggering of Article 50, is shocking and incredibly sad. Now should be the time to seek common ground, not stir up hatred and division. The question of Scotland’s constitutional future and its relationship with the EU is for the people in Scotland to decide. Irrespective of what they choose to do, we want to send a strong, cross-party, cross-national message that the the door to a common European future remains open.”

Text of the letter:

Dear Presiding Officer,
Dear Members of the Scottish Parliament,

As elected representatives from across the European Union we have been heartened by your support for a Europe which is united in pursuit of progress and not divided by fear and self-interest. Democracy and mutual respect are at the heart of the European project and so, whilst we are saddened by the vote of a small majority for the United Kingdom to leave the EU, we respect this as a democratic decision of UK citizens.

We recognise that this was not your choice however and that Scotland voted strongly to remain within the EU. The question of Scotland’s constitutional future, and your relationships with the UK and the EU are for the people of Scotland to decide. It is not our place to tell Scotland what path you should take. 

We regret that the UK's government has chosen to follow the path of a 'hard Brexit' and has so far refused to properly take into account the preferences of Scottish citizens in the withdrawal process. Therefore, if Scotland were to become an independent country and decided to seek to maintain European Union membership, we offer our full support to ensure the transition is as swift, smooth, and orderly as possible. Scotland would be most welcome as a full member of the European Union, with your five million European citizens continuing to benefit from the rights and protections we all currently enjoy.

Yours sincerely,