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This is the first European election where UK citizens will not be able to vote. But while people in England and Wales opted to give up their seat in Europe by a narrow 53%, the Scots have been deprived of a voice against their democratic will, as they voted overwhelmingly (62%) to remain.
With your help, our team of activists across Europe can make Scotland’s voice heard at these elections and ensure it’s part of the conversation about the upcoming EU enlargement.
Why do these elections matter to the people of Scotland?
After many years of stability, the EU is expanding again. Open accession talks are underway with Ukraine, Moldova and many more countries. This is a great opportunity to bring attention to Scotland’s unique situation, its place in Europe and the democratic injustice it faces.
As former European Council President Donald Tusk said in 2020, “I have no doubt everyone would be enthusiastic here in Brussels and more widely, more generally also in Europe if an independent Scotland rejoined the EU".
So how can Scotland’s voice be heard, now that it’s been taken away by Brexit?
Our campaign is led by a dedicated group of individuals from across Europe who recognize the injustice of Brexit and stand in solidarity with Scotland. We believe that Scotland rejoining the EU would not only undo the damage of Brexit but also contribute to building a stronger, more inclusive Europe.
With your support, we can launch a bold campaign that highlights Scotland's importance in the EU and advocates for Scotland’s rightful place at the European table.
By contributing to our crowdfunding campaign, you'll be helping us fund:
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Strategic Outreach: We'll activate our network of ambassadors across 15 European states to garner support from prospective MEPs through official statements of solidarity.
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Digital Campaigns: We'll launch targeted social media campaigns to amplify Scotland's voice and reach a wider audience.
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Public Events: We'll organize dedicated events to energize supporters and garner attention for our cause.
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Media Outreach: We'll work with journalists and media outlets to ensure that Scotland's perspective is heard in the press and on airwaves.
And the best thing is, we did the maths: all it would take is for the people who signed our petition to pitch in just £3!
For less than the cost of a latte, you can help us ensure that Scotland's voice is heard loud and clear in the EU elections and beyond.
And there’s more – for every pound donated by our supporters, we aim to have it matched by our sponsors.
Let's show the world that Scotland is ready to take its place on the European stage.
Donate today and help us make history!
The context
Back in 2014, many in Scotland voted No to independence for fear of losing their EU membership. But at the same time, the Brexit vote was already being planned and when it was held two years later, votes in England and Wales outpowered the Scottish people’s clear democratic wish to remain. That wish was reiterated in the final EU elections held in 2019, just months before Brexit was fully enacted in January 2020: while England overwhelmingly backed Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party, Scotland backed the pro-EU party SNP.
Yet Scotland’s democratic will was completely ignored in Brexit negotiations. For example, a special deal has been arrived at for Northern Ireland giving business there the ability to trade into both the UK and European markets – via the Irish Republic. Pushing the WIndsor Framework in Feb 2023, Rishi Sunak said it meant “privileged access not just to the UK home market which is the fifth biggest in the world, but also the European Union single market. Nobody else has that - no one, only you guys, only here. [...] This will be the world's most exciting economic zone."
And yet, Scots voted more solidly to Remain in the EU than their Celtic cousins across the North Sea. And the Scots have been left with nothing.
What’s more, Scotland is even being denied any chance of a way out of this mess, as its enduring democratic mandate for a new independence referendum has persistently been stonewalled by Westminster.
That’s why we at Europe for Scotland have decided to make Scotland’s voice heard. But we can't do this alone.
Thank you for your support,
Andrea, Nina, Sarah and the whole Europe for Scotland team
More info:
Break down of Brexit results by UK nation https://www.statista.com/statistics/568701/brexit-results-by-nation/
Rishi Sunak’s comments on Windsor Framework https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1740434/rishi-sunak-brexit-northern-ireland-best-both-worlds-uk-eu-update
Information about greater support for independence amongst young voters; ‘In 12 opinion polls conducted between early April and early July 2023 – after Humza Yousaf had become the new leader of the SNP – the average support among people born in the 1950s or earlier was under one third, and for those born in the 1990s or later was two thirds.’ https://ukandeu.ac.uk/will-support-for-scottish-independence-go-away/