Scotland & the EU

Open letter to the President of the European Commission

3224006627Business in Scotland will benefit from full, independent membership of the European Union. Scotland will benefit through direct representation and a stronger funding settlement.

In contrast, Westminster is increasingly isolated in the EU. Ukip won the European elections in England and now threats from David Cameron’s government are taking the UK, and by extension Scotland, closer to the exit door of the EU.

A Yes vote gives business and people in Scotland control over our future in Europe. Below is an open letter addressed to the new President of the European Commission on this subject by Russell Bruce.

To the President of the European Commission

“I write to congratulate you on your appointment as President of the European Commission.

I am nobody important, just a Scot, proud of Scotland and proud to be a citizen of the European Union.

I wish to dissociate myself from the behaviour of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who leads a party that has but one member from Scotland in the Parliament at Westminister, and another solitary member in the European Parliament.

Heads of state voted 26-2 in favour of Mr Junker’s appointment

I find it difficult to understand why he should have forced a vote on your appointment, when the advice from his advisors and the UK diplomatic service was that he did not have a veto and that he had no support from his fellow heads of government.

606x340_259260As the vote was decisive, that confers overwhelming approval for your appointment. I hope that gives you some personal satisfaction. You have a reputation for working towards consensus and being both conciliatory and pragmatic. I wish you well in your dealings with our difficult British Prime Minister in the months and years ahead.

David Cameron’s attacks have been bizarre

David Cameron’s approach to international relations with our European partners I, and many others, find puzzling. That internal political difficulties may play a part is no excuse for failing to adopt a courteous and constructive role in attempting to achieve his aims. Just what those aims are, he has failed to set out with objective clarity. Perhaps you are equally uncertain regarding the objectives of his proposed renegotiation agenda.

I also wish to take issue with the ‘cowardice’ allegations directed at Mr Cameron’s fellow leaders by some of his senior ministers and reported in the UK media this weekend. This is also not helpful for future relations, but sadly is a pattern stemming from Mr Cameron’s isolationist approach at European summits since he became British Prime Minister in 2010.

Scotland’s independent future in the European Union

On a personal matter, and one close to my heart, I would ask what my present status as a European citizen would be in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum on Scottish Independence on 18th September this year?

As you are no doubt aware the polls are closing with the increasing likelihood of an independent Scotland resuming its place in the community of nations and becoming a full and constructive member of the European Union.

I understand this would involve negotiations between the representatives of the Scottish Government and the European Union. It seems right, that as the people of Scotland have been citizens of the EU for almost 40 years, the approach would be one of continuing membership.

I do not ask this of you to be difficult or political, but as one European citizen to another.”

Yours sincerely,

Russell Bruce

European citizen

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About the author

Russell Bruce

Russell has worked in advertising and publishing. He was a board member of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park from 2002 to 2010. Russell is a partner in Diverse Marketing and Twinlaw Publishing and is currently Chair of Borders Writers' Forum. He has also written for online news sites and is editor of voteyesborders.com.

5 Comments

  • Thanks for the positive comments. I am interested in the suggestion of obtaining signatures. As citizens of the EU we are entitled to seek assurance that our citizenship can not be taken away from us. How many signatures do you think we could obtain? Perhaps a wee delegation to deliver the signatures to Jean-Claude Juncker?
    A point to note he is president elect at present. Barroso’s term runs to September

  • Dear Russell,

    May I take this opportunity to thank you from my heart for the letter to the European President, as I feel that the sentiments that you have so adequately composed are for and behalf of the majority of the people of Scotland. I also feel that the comments that you have highlighted towards the British Prime Minister are so accurately put, when you pointed out the he only has one representative here in Scotland, he cannot possibly speak on our behalf and therefor should be rendered invalid points.

    Thank you
    Eddie Neilly

    • My thoughts entirely Eddie and thanks for expressing them.
      I think the open letter from Russell could have obtained thousands of fellow signatories and perhaps that’s something Russell may be willing to obtain via this and other websites in order to demonstrate it’s not just one person who’s written this.

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