Scottish Government get a warm welcome in Brussels

June 29, 2016 6:38 pm

EuropeanParliament First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was in Brussels today garnering support for Scotland in the aftermath of the EU Referendum.

She had an early start:

4.15am on day 1 of fight to protect Scotland’s place in Europe – off to Brussels.

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) June 29, 2016

There then followed several meetings with EU officials all evidenced by tweets with photos of the First Minister alongside each one:

Meeting Scottish First Minister @NicolaSturgeon in my office in Brussels to discuss #EUref #Brexit pic.twitter.com/Pvk2X1iERM

— Guy Verhofstadt (@GuyVerhofstadt) June 29, 2016

Latest round of talks for @NicolaSturgeon with @RebHarms and @ph_lamberts from @GreensEP lovely to meet her! pic.twitter.com/L0w9KQ2C7J

— Chris Jones (@cjbxl) June 29, 2016

FM @nicolasturgeon meets leader of @Europarl_EN S&D group @giannipittella in Brussels pic.twitter.com/6LYo0srbSu

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 29, 2016

Then the most important meetings:

FM @NicolaSturgeon also this morning met President of the @Europarl_EN, @MartinSchulz in Brussels. pic.twitter.com/tWfw9AANoQ

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 29, 2016

And she met European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker too who changed his mind from yesterday.

.@JunckerEU now: “I’ll listen to @NicolaSturgeon. #Scotland won their right to be heard in #Brussels“.

— Margaritis Schinas (@MargSchinas) June 29, 2016

Speaking during a press conference of international journalists after a round of meetings, the First Minister said:

“Last Thursday, Scotland spoke clearly and positively for the European Union.

“I have found huge interest here in the referendum result, and a sympathetic response to the position Scotland finds itself in – a position not of our making, and not one we wanted.

“I’m not here to reach conclusions or press for decisions or commitments. I’m here to ensure that Scotland’s voice is being heard – and that Scotland’s position is being understood. It is.‎

“I have found open doors.

“I met President Schulz this morning and then met the leaders of several of the groups in the European Parliament, before meeting with President Juncker, where I received a very sympathetic response.

“In my discussions during the day, I’ve heard, as you would expect, deep concern about the impact of the referendum not just on the Scotland, the UK and the European institutions, but on people in all our countries and on the EU itself.

“For my part, I’ve emphasised that Scotland voted to remain part of EU.

“If there is a way for Scotland to stay, I am determined to find it‎.

“We are in uncharted territory, and none of this is easy. My task is to bring principles, purpose and clarity to the situation, and to speak for all of Scotland.

“We are early in this process. The referendum is not yet a week behind us – a long week for all of us.

“My concern at this stage is to ensure that once the UK negotiation with the EU starts, all the options are on the table‎. I don’t underestimate the challenges but I am heartened by the discussions. Here, I’ve found a willingness to listen: open doors, open ears and open minds.”