Future UK-EU Relations – the State of Play
Conference hosted by the European Movement in Scotland as part of their Festival of Europe 2026.
At a joint summit in May 2025, the EU and UK agreed on a new Strategic Partnership for cooperation. This included a new Security and Defence Partnership to respond to the security threats facing Europe. They also agreed a Common Understanding on areas for further co-operation.
This conference will look at the current state of play with those negotiations, what more agreements can be expected. The conference will also look at Scotland’s links with the EU, and what closer UK-EU links could mean for Scotland.
To discuss all these issues, we have a range of expert speakers and panellists:
- David Henig, Director of the UK Trade Policy Project at the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE)
- Alyn Smith, former SNP MEP & MP
- Martin Johnson, Director, Scottish Government EU Directorate
- Angela Mathis, Chief Executive, ThinkTank Maths
- William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, British Chambers of Commerce
- Allie Renison, Director SEC Newgate UK, former policy adviser to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The event will be chaired by Fiona Wishlade, former Professor at European Policies Research Centre, University of Strathclyde, and currently Vice-Chair of the European Movement in Scotland.
This event will be a great opportunity for an up-to-date briefing on these issues from top-experts – including their implications for Scotland – and Q & A.
More details and tickets here.