- Brexit anniversary highlights 'our focus must be firmly on
the future'.
Scotland's future is in the European Union as an independent
country, Europe Minister has said on the tenth
anniversary of the UK's Brexit referendum.
The Scottish Government continues to support strengthening the
UK-EU relationship, ensuring Scotland's voice is represented, and
on advancing Scotland's long-term constitutional options.
Ahead of the expected second UK-EU leaders Summit, the Scottish
Government is calling on the UK Government to ensure
the negotiations on a food, drink and farming agreement,
emissions trading, and youth mobility all deliver the fullest
possible outcomes for Scotland and
ensure Scotland's interests are clearly represented.
Minister for Europe and External Affairs said:
Ten years on from the referendum, the decision to leave the EU
has caused nothing but harm to Scotland.
Businesses face barriers that did not exist before, households
are under greater pressure, and young people have lost
opportunities to live, learn and work across
Europe.
Recent efforts by the UK Government to improve relations with the
EU are welcome but far from enough. Going forward,
there must be much closer cooperation in areas including
trade barriers, energy and mobility as a bare
minimum.
Our focus must be firmly on the future, and I believe that
Scotland's brightest future is as an independent nation and
member of the European Union. That is the challenge of the next
decade.
Background
- Scotland voted 62% to remain in the EU in 2016.
- The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020.
