This week, the European council in Brussels delivered a historic decision.
Sidestepping the opposition of Orban, EU leaders agreed to begin accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova and granted candidate status to Georgia.
Pro-EU demonstrations in Kiev, 2017
Ukraine and Moldova taking the next steps towards EU membership is great news for all of us who believe in a welcoming, outward-looking and inclusive European Union.
Crucially for us, it is also great news for Scotland as this illustrates that the EU can be both prompt and flexible if there is political will on both sides.
Furthermore, this news should reassure anyone in Scotland that the hurdles for joining the EU are far less steep than the UK media makes them out to be.
If Ukraine and Moldova can begin their journey towards EU membership despite not meeting all accession criteria–not to mention the ongoing war in Ukraine – then surely no one should have any doubt that Scotland, which is much more closely aligned with the EU, will have a smooth path in rejoining.
However, while we celebrate this news, let’s not just sit on our hands. Now is the time to remind the EU of their neighbours in the North who left against their will.
Now is the time to assert Scotland’s desire to rejoin the European family of nations as an independent country.
Together, let’s make sure that Europeans, and candidates in next year’s European Parliament elections will include Scotland, when the EU plans its future.
Thanks to more than 15 hundred Scots who have already signed our new petition asking to include Scotland in the conversation on EU enlargement.
If we get to 3000 before the end of the year, we’ll have a solid foundation to make sure Scotland’s voice is heard during the EU elections.
Please help us grow it by sharing it with a colleague, relative, neighbour or friend–or, ideally, with all of them!
Only together can we grow this petition and really make a difference!
In European solidarity
Europe for Scotland
