Nathanael Williams

Vice-chair of the Green group in Europe reacts to Sturgeon announcement with encouragement

EUROPE needs to be ready to keep Scotland within “its family of countries” in preparation for independence, according to German MEP and vice chair of the EU green group Julia Reda.

Reda, who is a leading campaigner in the European Parliament on privacy and consumer protection also said that this second vote on independence was chance to choose the values of Europe over those of the UK Government.

Her comments come following a statement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in which she announced that she would seek confirmation from Holyrood for a Section 30 order to agree the holding of a second independence referendum with the UK Government.

The move comes after weeks of political jostling by both the Scottish and UK Government in trying to establish a position and approach to Brexit and the First Minister making constant appeals to European neighbours for support.

“Any question what this all could mean for Europe is important but second to the question how to make sure Scotland can exercise the right to refuse being taken along down a path it didn’t choose.” Julia Reda

Speaking to Julia Reda MEP said: “Time and again, the Scottish electorate has been voting in favour of the European Union and in favour of a European Single Market with Scotland being part of both.

“Today’s remarks by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to seek another referendum is the consequent decision in face of the imminent Article 50 invocation by the UK Prime minister. The EU should be ready to keep Scotland within its family of countries if the Scottish choose to and it should also continue to embrace the cultural, social, scientific and economic contributions that people from Scotland have made.

“Any question what this all could mean for Europe is important but second to the question how to make sure Scotland can exercise the right to refuse being taken along down a path it didn’t choose.”

Germany’s and Europe’s Greens along with other German politicans have constantly voiced support for an independent Scotland within the EU. Ska Keller has stated last year in an interview with CommonSpace that she was in favour of an independent Scotland seperate from the issue of EU membership.

The German Government when contacted by CommonSpace said that it’s view had not changed that it did not wish to comment on “the internal dynamics of states”, however a spokesperson did state that it understood the difficulty of the situtation the Scottish Government had been put in. They added: “You know this is our view. That we just have to wait. Article 50 is very close so we will see then.”

Picture courtesy of Julia Reda