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Scottish First Minister tests water by visiting the European Parliament

By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 30 Jun 2016 • 7:51

© European Union 2016

Nicola Sturgeon and Martin Schulz in Brussels.

NICOLA STURGEON was pleased to have the opportunity to visit the European Parliament in Brussels to explain her view on why Scotland should be allowed to seek to remain within the EU despite the results of the UK referendum.

Whilst she was received politely by both European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and European Parliament President Martin Schulz, she was not welcomed by European Council president Donald Tusk who indicated that a meeting would not be appropriate.

The President of France, Francois Hollande indicated that he was opposed to the EU making any advance deal with Scotland whilst unsurprisingly on account of both the Catalan situation and the fact that Ms Sturgeon has been talking to Gibraltar, interim Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said that he wanted to make it “very clear Scotland does not have the competence to negotiate with the European Union.”

He went on to say “Spain opposes any negotiation by anyone other than the government of United Kingdom.”

“I am extremely against it, the treaties are extremely against it and I believe everyone is extremely against it. If the United Kingdom leaves Scotland leaves.”

At the end of her visit, Ms Sturgeon said she had received a “sympathetic response” to the position Scotland found itself in, having voted to remain in the EU while the UK voted as a whole to leave.

She said: “I have not been here today to reach any conclusions or to press anybody for any decisions or any commitments. I have been here to make sure that Scotland’s voice is being heard and that Scotland’s position is understood. I am confident that is the case, I found doors to be open here today.”

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Comments

    • Drew Edgar

      30 June 2016 • 16:34

      Another jolly at taxpayer’ expense in an unfounded futile attempt to pursue her minority agenda in a matter concerning which she has & the assembly has no competence.
      The Referendum was whether or not the WHOLE of the UK remained in or left the EU.

    • Brian Eagleson

      01 July 2016 • 14:09

      Hi Drew. Scotland is not just a region of England. It is a proud country with its own separate legal system from the English one and many other factors which distinguish it from England in many different ways. It does not have an “assembly” as you put it. That’s what Wales has. The Scots voted for a parliament with real power and that’s what they got. Wales didn’t, so they got a relatively powerless “assembly.”

      The Scottish nation’s electorate voted by 62% to 38% in favour of Remain. That’s a huge majority by any standards – much more than any MP would normally expect in any election. The SNP were re-elected this year for the third term running by the people of Scotland to serve them in Holyrood and look after their best interests. That is exactly what Nicola Sturgeon is doing by going to Brussels and seeking support from the EU right up to getting that “sympathetic response” from President Juncker of the European Commission. Do you really think the current Tory and Labour leaders in Westminster are doing the same for their country with all the murderous infighting that is going on after the English Brexit vote? Meanwhile they are completely ignoring Scotland’s vote. Just today (1st July) Gove dismissed Scotland saying categorically there will be no second independence referendum – forgetting that Nicola could just ignore him if she wants to. Two can play at that game.

      This is no mere “jolly” – this is an impending car crash for the Disunited Kingdom.

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