SCOTLAND’S Europe Secretary has backed a plan to open Scottish Government offices in every EU state.
The suggestion was floated by Irish politician Neale Richmond as a measure by which Scottish leaders can prepare for re-entry into the European Union as a sovereign nation .
Richmond, Fine Gael’s European Affairs spokesman and former chair of the Dail’s Brexit committee, said the “short-term goal” would be a “realistic” way to get ready to re-join the bloc post-Brexit and after achieving independence.
The suggestion prompted extensive discussion online as social media users reacted.
Now Michael Russell, Holyrood’s Constitution, Europe and External Affairs Secretary, has backed the plan.
Speaking to the Sunday National, he said the Scottish Government’s current external offices have been “very important” for trade and more.
And he said expanding that network could bring further benefits.
Russell said: “I think Neale is probably right. Look at the success of Quebec and its Flemish offices, they’ve assisted with trade and with the political situation.”
The Quebec government has operated an office in Brussels “to promote Quebec and its interests in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, as well as within the European institutions” since 1972.
It’s one of more than 30 offices in 18 different countries working on issues related to economy, education, culture, immigration and public affairs.
The Scottish Government currently has teams in London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels and more.
A satellite team was established in Beijing, China, in 2005 and another followed in Ireland’s capital Dublin four years ago.
It had been hoped to extend this further into Scandinavia this year, but that move is currently on hold.
The teams currently co-locate, with some working from facilities inside British Embassies and others sharing with other agencies, including Scottish Development International and VisitScotland.
Russell says that set-up helps to provide a “multi-faceted presentation of what we do and what Scotland can offer”.
Russell said: “I’d love to be open in every capital. The Brussels office is really important for us, the German and French offices have been very important, London is very important.
“We have to look north as well as east and south, and I think getting into Scandinavia would be a good thing.
“If we could afford it, I’d say open in every country. But there are constraints with finance.”
Richmond’s comments were made in conversation with Dr Kirsty Hughes, the founder and director of the Scottish Centre on European Relations, in the second episode of the European Conversations podcast for the European Movement in Scotland.
During the exchange, Richmond said Europe’s attitude to a potential Scottish bid for membership of the powerful bloc has “clearly changed” from that of 2014, when there were suggestions that a Yes vote would leave the country outwith the EU and waiting years to re-apply.
And he said Brexit would make such a bid “certainly a lot easier”.
Richmond said: “We have a Scottish Government office here in Dublin within the British Embassy.
“The growing number of Scottish offices, be they in Brussels to the EU, be they in Berlin, Paris, that is absolutely the way to go.
“To have a Scottish Government representation in each of the 27 member states should be a very realistic short-term goal for the Scottish Government to give that very distinct Scottish opinion.
“When we look at some of the Scottish Government’s policies, particularly when it comes to freedom of movement and immigration, they’re quite different to the current British administration.
“Seeing that, and seeing Scotland’s outward-looking approach … we need to see the very key bilateral ties.”
Laying out the Irish “appetite” for another English-speaking country to work with inside Europe, Richmond went on: “A lot of work has been started by the Scottish Government but it really needs to be accelerated in the post-Brexit period.”
He further suggested that the country’s current budget deficit would not be an insurmountable obstacle to re-joining and a transitional phase could be agreed as with Croatia – as long as the Scottish Government can present a credible plan for getting the deficit in-line with EU rules first.
Last week German MEP Terry Reinke, vice-chair of the Greens/European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament, reiterated her support for such a move, telling the Sunday National: “Whether Scotland will become an independent country or not is for the people in Scotland to decide. But we will do all we can so that our door will remain open.”
— to www.thenational.scot
