European Movement in Scotland

What We Stand For

Our goal is membership of the European Union. We campaign to promote the European Union and Scotland’s fullest possible participation now and for the future.

The European Union is as relevant to Scotland today as ever. In these turbulent times, with little or no certainty about future prospects, the role of the European Movement in Scotland (EMiS) is to keep the flame of Europe burning bright in Scottish polity and public opinion. We assert Scotland’s deep-rooted European identity, campaigning for the closest alignment with EU values and policies, whatever the constitutional and political context.

• We are European – by geography, history, language and culture we are part of Europe. We welcome and support EU citizens who have chosen to be here – we are all Scottish and European. What happens in the EU affects Scotland. EMiS works to help shape the policies that the EU pursues, as well as those that the UK and Scottish governments develop in relation to Europe.  We campaign to ensure Scotland is present in EU thinking.
• European Union Values – peace, democracy, rule of law, human rights, equality, sustainability and solidarity are enshrined in the EU treaties. These values are relevant to all our lives, in or out of the EU. EMiS champions them.
• Benefits of Membership, being a member of the European Union is better than any alternative trade and geopolitical option. The full benefit comes through full EU membership, but many advantages are available, meantime, from close alignment. EMiS works to ensure Scotland keeps uppermost in mind the advantages of closest possible alignment now and the full benefits of future membership. 
• The EU offers a dynamic vision for our future. The EU is constantly evolving. As Europe works together to deliver the Next Generation EU post-pandemic recovery plan, EMiS offers a forum where we join in the debate – learning and contributing – while we work our way forward to membership.

Speaker Service

Do you need a speaker for your club, organisation, school, groups etc.?

We have speakers whose backgrounds range from the academic to the political, and will speak on and debate all aspects of European issues, for example, the UK’s place in the EU, immigration, fiscal and monetary policy, the Common Agricultural Policy, the EU Treaties, the Constitutional Treaty, the future of Europe, and so on.

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President

David Martin became President of EMiS in January 2024. He was the UK’s longest serving Member of the European Parliament, representing Scotland from 1984 to 2019. He was the youngest ever leader of the Labour group of MEPs. 

David is a former Scottish European Parliamentarian of the Year and a former European Parliament Trade MEP of the Year. During his time as an MEP, he focused on Trade and Development, Human Rights, Constitutional Affairs and Democracy. He authored over one hundred Reports for the Parliament. He served for 15 years as Vice-President of the Parliament and was a leading reformer of its working methods.  

David was a Member of the First Minister of Scotland’s Standing Council on Europe.  He was a visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow (2019-2022) and Senior Fellow at RSIS in Singapore, one of Asia’s leading centres of International Studies.   

David Martin was educated at Heriot Watt University and the University of Leicester. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of the Punjab, in recognition of his work to strengthen relations between the EU and Pakistan.  

Vice-Presidents

Sarah Boyack MSP
Patrick Harvie MSP
Willie Rennie MSP
Alyn Smith MP

Patrons

Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale,
Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG, KC,
Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness PC KC

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Executive Committee