(c) PA Wire/PA Images

From Insider today:

‘The First Minister will officially open Scotland House and also meet Michel Barnier to raise fears about Brexit’s ‘damaging uncertainty’. Nicola Sturgeon is set to officially open the expanded Scotland House in Brussels – a hub for Scottish businesses in Europe’

The first Minister said:

‘People and businesses are desperate for clarity on Brexit, but with just months to go before the withdrawal agreement has to be signed, the UK Government still cannot agree a position. This damaging uncertainty could come to an immediate end if only the UK Government would put jobs and living standards first and agree to continuing single market and customs union membership – for Scotland and the whole of the UK. Whatever the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, we are committed to continuing our collaboration, our friendship and our partnership with other European countries.’

https://www.insider.co.uk/news/nicola-sturgeon-brexit-scotland-house-12608042

This visit comes after it emerged that the Scottish government has completed around 200 engagements from early 2017, in Europe, and beyond, including the Baltic, the Arctic and the Scandinavian areas. See this:

‘More than 200 engagements between Scottish Government ministers and European governments, institutions and organisations have taken place since the start of 2017. The ‘strong desire’ to connect with Scotland and listen to our views signals that the EU continues to see Scotland as an important partner – according to External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop. In just 16 months, Scottish Government ministers have initiated or accepted more than 200 meetings and visits with European partners, which on average means a European engagement has taken place at least three times per week.’

Some of the more notable engagements have included:

The opening of Scottish Government Hubs in Berlin and Dublin First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s visits to Dublin, Bonn and Utrecht Engagements by the First Minister and Michael Russell in Brussels High level meetings by Fiona Hyslop in Paris, The Hague and Berlin Engagements by Europe Minister Alasdair Allan in Oslo, Riga and Bratislava Hosting an Arctic Circle gathering in Edinburgh Hosting visits by delegations from EU member states and institutions to Scotland Co-hosting in Edinburgh the OECD Rural Development Conference Briefing sessions with the Scotland-based Consular Corps Meetings between Scottish Ministers and EU Ambassadors

https://news.gov.scot/news/not-the-final-europe-day