Edinburgh 4 Europe

It is with great sadness that EMiS has learned of the sudden death of David Gow. David was a stalwart of EMiS for many years following his retirement from The Guardian, where he was latterly European Business Editor. Please read more here: www.facebook.com/EuroMoveScot...

@johnswinney.bsky.social:

“#Scotland voted decisively to remain in EU in 2016… Scotland’s interests… best served by #RejoinEU as an independent member state. In interim, we support rebuilding the deepest and most ambitious partnership possible with EU.”
euromovescotland.org.uk/guy-verhofst...

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@guyverhofstadt.bsky.social:

“The European Union… brought 80 years of peace, stability, growing prosperity and liberal democracy to the continent. All the evidence is that the people of Scotland and of the UK wish they were still in the EU.”

euromovescotland.org.uk/guy-verhofst...

#RejoinEU
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Richard Demarco, awarded Scottish European of the Year 2025. Photo by Martin P McAdam.

Demarco Honoured with award
Richard Demarco named Scottish European of the Year at EMiS Annual Dinner.
A lifetime of cultural leadership and European vision.

3. Europe at a Crossroads
Verhofstadt: “The EU is one of the greatest political achievements in history.”
Let’s not take it for granted. Verhofstadt warns of rising authoritarianism, global instability, and the need for unity. Europe must respond — together.

1. Guy Verhofstadt in Edinburgh
“Europe’s political moderates must urgently counter threats to stability and prosperity.”
A powerful call to action from Guy Verhofstadt at the EMiS annual dinner. The time for complacency is over.

Edinburgh welcomes Guy Verhofstadt, President of European Movement International (and former Belgian Prime Minister, MEP), ahead of his keynote speech at EM in Scotland annual dinner. #RejoinEU #LeaveALightOn 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺

#Edinburgh welcomes @guyverhofstadt.bsky.social, President of European Movement International (and former Belgian Prime Minister, MEP), ahead of his keynote speech at EM in #Scotland annual dinner. #RejoinOurEU 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺

With Depute Lord Provost @lezleymarion.bsky.social, @benmacpherson.bsky.social MSP.

"When we did that deal back in May with the European Union, to take down some of those barriers and indeed to introduce an ambitious youth mobility scheme, there was public support for that. There are obviously huge benefits from rebuilding some of those relations" Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor

Recent polling has shown that the majority of Brits think Brexit has been a failure, and the Chancellor herself has admitted that there is public support for increased deals with the European Union - so why aren't they doing more to reverse the mistake of Brexit?

After ministers have started to admit the damage of Brexit, the World Trade Organisation has now cited it as a key reason for the downturn in global goods trade since 2018. The narrative is shifting and the tide is turning: Brexit was sold as a lie.

"Allowing young Britons to live and work across Europe will encourage them to learn languages for real-world use, not just as an academic subject. At the same time, welcoming young Europeans to the UK will inject energy, skills, and cultural understanding into our workforce" Noël Wolf, LBC, 29 October 2025

Enabling freedom of movement is vital for strengthening the UK economy, and rejoining the Erasmus+ programme would be an important step towards achieving this.

Farage's proposal to leave the ECHR voted down

Today, Members of Parliament voted overwhelmingly AGAINST Nigel Farage's bill to take the UK out of the ECHR. This is a win for all those who want to protect our last line of defence of our rights and freedoms.

'Brexit was devastating for farmers. Brexit and the loss of the single farm payment had a devastating effect, and promise to replace the money have been broken.' Rory Stewart, Co-Host, the Rest is Politics Podcast

Leaving the European Union has stripped rural communities of stability and security, as the farmers who were told they would be better off, are now facing higher costs, more red tape, and less support. This is yet another example of a false Brexit promise.

Sofia Corradi, the creator of the EU's Erasmus program which has sent millions of young people abroad throughout Europe to study, died in Rome aged 91, Italian media reported Saturday.

❓Did you benefit from Erasmus?
Share your story below

We would love to hear them!

This weekend we are at the @scottishgreens.org party
conference

Support for closer connections with Europe is practically unanimous, when we checked with delegates who stopped by our stall.
@cluthaman.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social
@grassrootsforeurope.org
@patrickharvie.bsky.social

Scottish Greens party conference today

@patrickharvie.bsky.social
@maggiechapman.bsky.social

Ariana Burgess and @euromovesco stalwart Bill Roger
@scottishgreens.org 🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The creation of the European Movement in Scotland (EMiS) Brussels group is an important step in rekindling the existing friendship between Scotland and the EU and in emphasising Scotland's desire to #RejoinOurEU. #LeaveALightOn 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺

Government finally confronts Brexit damage We're the UK's largest pro-European movement. Our goal is to reverse the calamity of Brexit and restore relations with our European neighbours.

After avoiding the subject for so long, in just one week three senior Government ministers have confirmed how damaging Brexit has been to our economy.

www.europeanmovement.co.uk/government_f...

Former Conservative MP Philip Hammond, who warned against the dangers of #Brexit, highlighting that Brexit has indeed turned out to have left the UK exposed as a small country and now without the mutual support of former close friends. #BrexitBreaksBritain #RejoinSingleMarket #RejoinOurEU

Brexit ‘being ignored’ as cause of UK universities’ problems Loss of EU students made recruitment more commercial and universities more insular, argues new book

Times Higher Education: Brexit ‘being ignored’ as cause of UK universities’ problems
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/brexit-...

Starmer and Streeting break silence on Brexit’s damage We're the UK's largest pro-European movement. Our goal is to reverse the calamity of Brexit and restore relations with our European neighbours.

For the first time in years, senior Labour figures are saying it plainly.

Wes Streeting: “I’m glad that Brexit is a problem whose name we now dare speak.”
Keir Starmer: “They lied to this country, unleashed chaos, and walked away after Brexit.”

The silence is breaking. The damage is undeniable.

Twin towns - the story of Haddington in Scotland and Aubigny-sur-Nere in France Find out how the historic Auld Alliance between Scotland and France is celebrated by these twin towns in the Fêtes Franco-Écossaises

#ScotlandTwinningEurope after WW2 people in Europe sought peace & connection to build a new Europe. Twinning relationships sprang up recognising longstanding links. This article shares the story of villes jumelées #Haddington & #Aubigny-sur-Nére www.completefrance.com/travel/twin-...

Yes, but our point is that from a UK perspective, this is sthg we inflicted on ourselves. Until not so long ago, we •were• EU citizens: almost 75% of Edinburgh voted to Remain, 62% of Scotland overall! Opinion polls show an ever smaller minority think #Brexit was a good idea. We must #RejoinOurEU 🇪🇺

Britons travelling to EU to undergo new biometric checks at border from Sunday Most non-EU nationals entering Schengen area will have photo and fingerprints taken as part of entry-exit system

Yet another awkward travel hassle for British citizens caused by Brexit is about to come into effect. #BrexitStillBreaksBritain #RejoinSingleMarket #RejoinOurEU #RejoinEU

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

'The tide is turning on Europe' - Heseltine makes landmark speech Lord Heseltine spoke to a full house at European Movement UK’s event at Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Here is his speech in full.

At Conservative Party Conference, Lord Heseltine said most voters now see Brexit as a mistake and urged Conservatives to rebuild ties with Europe and reject Farage’s populism.

Read the full speech:

Wise words from Lord Michael Heseltine, but will the Conservative Party heed them?

The numbers are clear. Most Britons now believe leaving Europe was a mistake. The next generation knows our future lies in cooperation, not isolation.

The European Movement in Scotland (EMiS) mourns the passing of Ming Campbell, a former EMiS President. He was a lifelong advocate for the UK being at the heart of the EU. Our sympathies go to his family and his many friends across the political divide and in many walks of life.

The EU (and EEA) would have a population of well over 500M if the UK were to become a member once again… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺

euromovescotland.org.uk/join-us/

#RejoinOurEU #RejoinEU #RejoinSingleMarket

Guy Verhofstadt to speak at pro-EU dinner in Edinburgh Press release: European Movement in Scotland announces keynote speaker for its annual event

Guy Verhofstadt to speak at pro-EU dinner in Edinburgh bylines.scot/politics/eur...