We were very proud of what we achieved last week alongside our friends from Yes for EU.
To mark the 10th anniversary of Scotland’s vote to remain in the European Union, we gathered in front of the European Commission for a moving bagpipe performance of Auld Lang Syne, the European Anthem, Flower of Scotland and Scotland the Brave, intended to highlight Scotland’s long-standing aspiration for a European future as an independent nation. Many passers-by stopped to listen, and several came over to express their solidarity with Scotland.
French and Flemish pipers as part of Europe for Scotland and Yes for EU’s happening between the European Commission and Council (Photo: ©Frédéric Pétry).
We were very happy to once again meet Thomas Waitz MEP, a true friend of Scotland, to both consult with him and share our view on the recent Scottish and Welsh Parliamentary elections. These were instrumental in triggering the resignation of Keir Starmer. And in Scotland, they have led to a renewed mandate, indeed the largest ever in terms of seats in the Scottish Parliament, for a new independence referendum.Another highlight was our visit to Scotland House in Brussels, where we had a warm welcome and a fruitful discussion about the many ways European and Scottish representatives can work together across the EU and about how to deepen the cultural and political connections that matter so much to our shared future.
The view on the European Commission building from Scotland House in Brussels where the Yes for EU and Europe for Scotland teams were welcomed. (Photo: ©Frédéric Pétry).
Finally, we were honoured to bring together an exceptional panel of speakers from each of the UK nations in a debate in the European Parliament. Anthony Barnett from England, former SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford from Scotland, former MEP Jill Evans from Wales and the Irish Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan were hosted by Vincent Marza and Diana Riba MEPs of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament. The debate was enriched by a video intervention by MEP Terry Reintke, another true friend of Scotland.
It was, to our knowledge, the first time since the May 7 election that representatives from the Celtic countries came together in a Parliament to discuss Irish reunification,and Scotland and Wales’s path towards independence in Europe. We are convinced we shall hear much more about this burgeoning Celtic alliance going forward.
We take this opportunity to apologise for sending out the wrong link to the livestream of the debate, which can be watched fully at this link.
The debate featured a lively discussion, where we learnt from Lynn Boylan that Sinn Féin is planning a referendum on Irish Unity by 2030 and from Jill Evans that the new Welsh government led by Plaid Cymru is developing a new European alignment act, underpinning their European strategy. Jill evoked the pride of Wales in being a nation of sanctuary and the first country in the world to inscribe the UN millennium goals into law. From Philippa Whitford – who is incontrovertible when arguing for Scotland’s technological and strategic contribution to the EU – we were reminded of Scotland’s production of green electricity and hydrogen, its satellite technology, in addition to its strategic position as the most northerly non-Arctic nation situated in the Greenland-Norway gap, a critical geopolitical security point. For his part, Anthony Barnett predicted the rise of a new kind of Englishness, a positive civic and pluralistic English nationalism that both respects and draws its inspiration from Scotland and Wales.
The speakers of the event hold hands while our piper Agnès Desbiens plays Auld Lang Syne as did MEPs when the UK officially left the EU. (Photo: ©Frédéric Pétry). Agnès Desbiens has been an ambassador on the Europe for Scotland French team from the very beginning. She is a member of a pipe band and plays the pipes regularly.
In the coming days, we will share reflections about these exchanges. For now, we want to thank everyone who kindly contributed (or will contribute!) to our Fundraiser and to the Scottish Independence Foundation. Thank you all for being a part of this endeavour.
Viva Scotland in Europe, and long life to the Celtic Alliance!In European solidarity
EfS team