Our Response to the Holyrood Committee on Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture (CEEAC)

4th December 2024

Opening statement of the position of the European Movement in Scotland

The strategic economic importance of the Scottish Government using its powers to the maximum and its authoritative position as a voice for Scotland in promoting the benefits and opportunities of ever-closer alignment with the EU cannot be over-stated.

Such action is elemental to the UK rebuilding strong ties in the vital areas of trade, educational and cultural engagement, scientific and technological R&D and ease of travel and employment.

The European Movement in Scotland endorses the Scottish Government’s broad approach to alignment with the EU and encourages all interested parties to constantly alert the Labour government to the long-term damage to UK national interests of it adhering to its Brexit red lines, none of which were voted for in the 2016 Referendum.

The European Movement in Scotland asks the Scottish Government to be more frequently vocal in advocating for ever-closer ties with the EU. Scotland should be leading the case and be seen to be leading it.

EMiS see it as a vital responsibility of the Scottish Government to ensure that the laws of Scotland and the legal system in force here reflect as closely as possible the ‘acquis communautaire”  ’ of the European Union. Scotland was compliant with this requirement when it left the EU. At that time, the Scottish Government made a commitment to maintain that situation with respect to all devolved matters in Scotland. The ensuing position has not seen that commitment universally applied. This is a matter of regret, as being in harmony with the EU has numerous benefits to Scotland’s economy, environment, quality of life and cultural and social wellbeing.

Our specific responses to the consultation

  1. EMiS welcomes the Scottish Government’s support for the UK to join the European Single Market and the Customs Union and urges it to continue to press the UK government to adopt those measures as UK national policy, as being in the best interests of the UK and the economic stability of the European continent.
  2. EMiS contends that maintaining the closest possible compliance with EU laws and regulations is in the best interests of Scotland’s economy, the health and welfare of its people, the protection of its ecology and landscape and the sustainability of Scotland as a leading centre for scientific, medical and technological research and development.
  3. EMiS welcomes the belated introduction of a mechanism to monitor new legal instruments being considered or enacted in Brussels. We urge the Scottish Government to ensure that this initiative is given a high level of importance in terms of human and financial resources, management supervision, and reporting and accountability to the Scottish Parliament.
  4. EMiS urges that the Scottish Government produces an annual report on its work to align Scottish legalisation and regulations with European Union law.
  5. EMiS believes The Internal Market Act 2020 is a barrier to rebuilding close economic and regulatory ties with the EU, as it can act as a brake on adopting the rules of a far bigger market to satisfy legislation that time has proven to be inimitable to the interests of Scotland and the UK.
  6. EMiS urges the Scottish government to lobby UK ministers to repeal the 2020 Internal Market Act.
  7. EMiS encourages the Scottish Government to use its devolved powers where it has them to amend in Scotland UK legislation and regulation to align it as closely as possible with the EU. So that Scottish businesses are better able to compete in Europe, Scotland’s competitiveness is enhanced, and Scotland itself benefits from high standards in, for example, areas like food safety, building materials, health and safety and water quality.
  8. EMiS notes the Scottish Government does not have the devolved power to legislate on access to the single market, meaning that although goods and produce for export from Scotland to the EU are compliant with EU regulation, direct export is hindered by post Brexit formalities. Empowering the Scottish Government to regulate export directly to the EU single market would represent a significant benefit to Scottish manufacturers and food and drink processors, boosting employment and adding to the UK’s foreign earnings. It would also help put Scottish businesses on a more level playing field with those in Northern Ireland, which continue to enjoy access to the European Single Market. EMiS would support the Scottish Government lobbying UK ministers to devolve the necessary powers to Edinburgh.
  9. EMiS notes the Scottish Government’s attempts to have immigration and work visa powers devolved to Edinburgh have fallen on deaf ears at Westminster and urges the Scottish Government to maintain pressure on London. We share the Edinburgh government’s view that this is a matter of economic necessity, or business continuity and the efficient delivery of health and social care.
  10. EMiS notes and welcomes that the Scottish Government’s environment policy with respect to climate change and biodiversity is broadly in line with the goals set in EU policy and regulation. Similarly in food standards and some public health policy areas, the Scottish Government has tried hard to maintain parity with EU standards and legal requirements. Some aspects of Fisheries policy have also been maintained at levels of EU compliance. These examples clearly show that where there is demonstrably clear public benefit, political will and firm ministerial guidance the creation of EU compliant measures delivers economic and societal benefits of great significance.
  11. EMiS understands that the Scottish authorities continue to reflect EU standards in inspection and enforcement mechanisms in relation to food safety, aiming to support agri-food exports to the EU. Nonetheless as the pace of alignment varies, and we are faced with the absence of formal recognition by the EU, the practical benefits for businesses​ are limited.
  12. EMiS is disappointed that the Scottish Government has not been more pro-active in locking-in to the legislative process at Holyrood a stronger commitment to using its own powers and to urging UK ministers to ensure that new UK legislation is in tune with Europe and that as regulation evolves it does not depart in principle or practice from being compliant with EU law. This is a missed opportunity to put our own industries on a level playing field with the EU market, give Europe greater confidence that we are serious about rebuilding ties and give Scotland confidence that standards of human and environmental safety at least match those of the EU.

The European Movement in Scotland

Thirty-five years ago, the European Movement in Scotland (EMiS) became independent of the European Movement UK (EMUK). EMiS enjoys wholly amicable and mutually supportive relations with EMUK. However, Scotland’s distinctive political culture warranted a pro-Europe organisation run in Scotland and sensitive to Scotland’s politics, economy, educational structures, environment, ecology, history and culture.

EMiS provides the secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Europe at Holyrood.

EMiS champions Scotland’s political, economic and social ties with its European neighbours. EMiS has no party-political affiliation. It draws its membership from all sides of mainstream Scottish politics and from individuals with no party-political ties. EMiS has a core membership of c2,500 people and more than 20,000 registered supporters.

EMiS members range from manual workers to small business owners, schoolteachers to senior executives; musicians and artists; GPs to former MEPs; serving MPs to academics; former European, Scottish and UK civil servants; retired European legal officers; scientists and engineers. EMiS membership is wholly representative of Scottish life.

EMiS evolved from the UK-wide European Movement, founded in 1947. It played a central part in campaigning to take the UK into the then EEC, campaigned for the creation of the European Single Market and for the evolution of the EEC into the European Union. It has been an active force for over 70 years in contributing to European policy development at strategic and legislative levels.

The goal of EMiS is for Scotland, whether as part of the UK or as an independent nation, to return to its former position as a full member of the European Union. A status which has been removed against the democratic will of the people of Scotland.

EMiS, and its local groups, actively campaign across Scotland, via talks, debates, webinars, livestreams, street stalls, social media, articles and quotes in the mainstream press, radio and TV, attendance at party conferences and community engagement at local fairs and similar events.

The European Movement in Scotland is committed to promoting the essential European value of free speech. Consequently, we regularly publish articles by leading academics, journalists and others discussing issues germane to Scotland’s place in Europe. Such articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Movement in Scotland.