Who we are
Europe for Scotland is a pan-European civil society initiative that brings together citizens from all across Europe who want to express solidarity with Scotland post-Brexit and are united in their conviction that an independent Scotland should be welcomed back in the EU. We are a grassroots campaign and unaffiliated with any political party or institution.
Our motivation
In the Brexit Referendum, 62% of Scots voted to stay in the EU and Brexit was rejected in every single Scottish voting district. Yet despite the nation’s clear and unanimous mandate to remain, arrangements to retain some of its ties with the EU were never provided, and proposals from the Scottish government for a “soft Brexit” were ignored by successive Tory governments. In 2020, all UK nations left the EU on terms negotiated by Boris Johnson, who chose a “hard Brexit”, a radical breakup with the European Union and an aggressive posture towards it that continues to this day. Europe for Scotland believes that the substance and manner of Scotland’s involuntary departure from the EU marks a democratic injustice. This injustice needs to be redressed.
Our goals
We want the Scottish people to know that Europeans everywhere support their right to self-determine Scotland’s future post-Brexit through a new independence referendum, as demanded by voters in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. We also want to raise awareness across European countries about Scotland’s history as an ancient European nation, its unique institutional situation and the fact that it was dragged out of the EU against the democratic will of its people. Finally, we want EU leaders and institutions to speak out ahead of the new independence referendum to clarify that an independent Scotland can speedily rejoin the EU if this is still its democratic wish and that the process would be facilitated by EU institutions in a spirit of generosity and solidarity. You can find a more in-depth discussion of our goals here.
Our journey so far
Europe for Scotland launched in April 2021 with an open letter to EU leaders signed by 200 cultural figures from all EU countries and UK nations. The letter was simultaneously published in 10 European countries and covered by media outlets like Guardian, Politico, Al Jazeera. Since our launch, we have written articles in European papers, released multiple videos in solidarity with Scotland, and we have been joined by a pan-European network of activists distributed across Europe. Overall, our campaign benefits from the advice and work of more than 50 volunteers from 17 European countries. In November 2023 we launched a petition asking Europeans to include Scotland in the conversation over EU enlargement.
Our next steps
We keep up campaigning for Scotland’s right to decide its own future post-Brexit. Our network of European activists will make the case for Scotland across Europe, attending and organising events on behalf of Europe for Scotland, and developing and putting in place plans to lobby national politicians.
We are preparing a report into the benefits of Scotland’s future EU accession. We would like to present it in Brussels to lobby the next European Parliament to pass a Motion for a Resolution calling for an independent Scotland to be fast tracked back into the EU.
Our cultural team wants to tell Scotland’s story in engaging ways to win hearts and change minds of both European politicians and the general public, for instance with film such as At the Heart of Europe: a celebration of Scotland’s European history (see below). Output of the cultural team (e.g. videos) will be played at events in Brussels and across Europe, and politicians will be invited to cultural events for more informal networking.
How you can help us
- Join more than15,000 Europeans and sign our open letter, which can be found translated into more than 20 European languages on this site.
- Please also spread the word about our campaign, share our website and our videos with friends, colleagues, neighbours and family.
- If you’re happy to lend us your skills and offer your advice, consider getting involved in our national teams, our EU lobbying group or our cultural team. If you have friends in other EU countries please encourage them to join, too. We’re always happy to welcome new members!
- Finally, please donate to our fundraiser. Every pound and every euro helps us to achieve our ambitious goals.
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