Tomorrow, Nicola Sturgeon will make an initial visit to Brussels to set out Scotland’s position to representatives of the major groups in the European Parliament, and to the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz.
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However, the amendment did not pass and MSPs subsequently voted in favour of the original motion, giving Ms Sturgeon a mandate to “explore options for protecting Scotland’s relationship with the EU”, with 92 backing it and 31 abstentions.
Scotland voted decisively against independence in a 2014 referendum, although Sturgeon on Tuesday said last Thursday’s referendum meant “a very real and material change to Scotland’s circumstances”.
Consular-level meetings with other EU countries have already taken place, and Sturgeon plans an audience with the European Commission.
So when Ms Sturgeon sits down with European leaders what will she be asking for?
She added: “We are at an early stage in this process, and the substance of what I’ve read from the acting prime minister of Spain today is relating to the fact that this is a United Kingdom, as a member state, negotiation with the EU”. “Depending on how negotiations go, situations and solutions could be envisaged that might apply to Scotland, but that won’t be decided beforehand”, he said.
Britain as a whole voted by 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the European Union but Scotland voted strongly for Britain to remain – by 62 percent to 38 percent.
The Scottish arm of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, which is the main opposition to the SNP in the Scottish parliament, attacked Sturgeon for linking the European Union issue to the possibility of a second independence referendum.
But the blistering comments were devastating for Scotland’s First Minister given that she was on a tour of Brussels as Mr Rajoy spoke.
Nicola Sturgeon has just arrived in Brussels for a series of meetings about how she can try to protect Scotland’s interests in the UK.
“Scotland has voted to remain in Europe, and we must now take all the action necessary to ensure that the will of the Scottish people is respected”, Ms. Sturgeon said.
Mr Smith urged MEPs to work with the people of Scotland to help them continue the 43 year membership that the United Kingdom had chosen to end.
He was meeting with the 27 other European Union leaders, including British Prime Minister David Cameron who was there to officialy explain the Brexit vote to other European Union member states.
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“I am extremely against it, the treaties are extremely against it and I everyone is against it. If the United Kingdom leaves…Scotland leaves”.
