For quite some time, much of the talk across the UK has been about the next Westminster election. The public is impatient to end 13 years of destructive Tory rule and simultaneously unimpressed by the alternatives Labour offers. Meanwhile, in Scotland there’s widespread dismay that no matter the outcome, demand for a Scottish referendum will continue to be ignored.
Amidst all the anticipation of the next UK general election, the impact of another upcoming election hasn’t at all registered so far, despite the fact that this, too, could be very consequential for the UK as a whole and for Scotland in particular.
In May 2024 the EU will elect a new Parliament. And if you’re inclined to shrug and think this doesn’t matter, think again, because with sweeping EU reforms now on the table, the next EU Parliament is promising to be highly consequential. Above all it will oversee a historic expansion of the EU. This has been on hold for countries in the Balkans. But now the need to initiate Ukraine’s membership has triggered a process that may increase the size of the EU from 27 to 35 member states.
The mainstream media and what now passes for the British establishment either scoff at these plans or give them the silent treatment because they show how Brexit has sidelined Westminster. But as our Steering Group member Anthony Barnett shows in an article in The National, French and German policy makers are discussing new rules for the membership of non-state entities, something that could be adapted for Scotland if there is the political will.
Scotland won’t be part of these plans for Enlargement, or even partake in the EU’s discussions about it, unless we all make a collected effort to put Scotland on the agenda.
The EU parliamentary elections in May 2024 will be the first in which Scots (and generally UK citizens) cannot vote. Brexit has deprived citizens of all UK nations of their voice in Europe.
We at Europe for Scotland want to bring the Scottish voice back into European debates. And though we feel strongly that we as Europeans cannot speak for Scots, what we can do is offer Scots a platform to make their voices heard.
That’s why we’re launching a new petition, which unlike our open letter isn’t for EU citizens to express solidarity, but for Scots to express their dismay over Brexit and to ask Europeans to remember Scotland’s continued desire to return to an EU it never voted to leave.
The petition will formally launch on St Andrews Day, the 30th of November, when Europe for Scotland is also proud to host an online event to discuss our plans for 2024 in view of these important political developments.
The online event, titled “EU elections 2024: Let’s make some noise for Scotland” will feature Lesley Riddoch, Olaf Stando (SNP), Morag Williamson (Yes for EU) and several Europe for Scotland activists. Broadcast on Independence Live from 6 pm, the panel will also take questions from the virtual audience. We look forward to seeing you there! In European solidarity, The EfS team
