11 February 2020

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon emphasised Scotland’s shared values with the European Union during a series of engagements in Brussels.

Speaking to an audience including EU diplomats at the European Policy Centre, she said that Scotland’s task now that membership of the EU had ended was to find a voice as an independent nation which could take its place on the world stage.

Earlier the First Minister met EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier to discuss the UK/EU talks, which are due to begin next month. She also spoke to EU Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager about the EU’s Green Deal and the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow.

The First Minister said:

It was already clear, and it has been reaffirmed to me in the constructive meetings I’ve held today, that there is genuine goodwill in the EU towards Scotland.

We are leaving the EU at a time when we have never benefited from it more, and when we have never needed it more to achieve our ambitions.

On this visit to Brussels I have made clear how important it is for Scotland to remain close to the EU.”

Read the First Minister’s speech to the European Policy Centre.

Very happy to meet and get to know @NicolaSturgeon. Talked about Green Deal and the Cop in Glasgow, dynamics of digitisation and AI – lots of opportunities and common, fundamental values to be preserved! pic.twitter.com/hXKKsuzBum

— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) February 10, 2020

Today First Minister @NicolaSturgeon met EU chief negotiator @MichelBarnier in Brussels for useful discussions on the forthcoming UK/EU talks. pic.twitter.com/u4E3u2Oyc8

— Scottish Government (@scotgov) February 10, 2020