European Movement in Scotland: “The big debate” “This house believes Scotland and the UK should #RejoinEU.” Friday 16 January 2026, 7pm. Glasgow University Union, University Avenue, G12 8LX (10 min walk from Kelvinbridge subway station) Free admission. All welcome.

A frustrating example from a local #Edinburgh bike shop of the sort of unnecessary hassles and inconveniences that #Brexit causes, hurting Scottish and UK businesses every single day… #BrexitBreaksBritain #RejoinOurEU

Happy 70th birthday to the European flag 🇪🇺 Back in 1955, the Council of Europe reviewed more than 100 designs, and chose this one as the winner. The 12 stars stand for completeness, not countries. The design was chosen so it wouldn’t change with borders or new members.

The UK does not need to look across the Atlantic for protection when our closest neighbours stand prepared to defend the same values and security. Our future and security lie with Europe.

✨ Empowering the next generation to defend human rights! 🎥 Watch the wrap‑up video featuring students from Louis Pasteur High School, who explain how this moot court experience gave them the tools to grow into informed citizens.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Former Foreign Secretary recognises that our future lies with our European Neighbours. Now, it's time to turn those words into action.

Today, we fined X for non-compliance with transparency obligations under the DSA. We're holding X accountable for: 🔹Deceptive design of its ‘blue checkmark’ 🔹Lack of transparency of its advertising repository 🔹Failure to provide access to public data for researchers link.europa.eu/bcmC87

Businesses across the UK have felt the weight of Brexit in their daily operations, with new layers of red tape touching every stage of production, trade and recruitment. What were once straightforward processes have become slower and more expensive, leaving firms with less time and fewer resources.

Last year saw a record amount of post-Brexit Irish passport applications in the UK last year, with almost a quarter of a million people living in the UK applying. It's clear that the public want freedom of movement - it's time for the Government to take action.

Erasmus+ show what happens when opportunity is made accessible rather than exclusive. Rejoining the programme would change lives and strengthen the diverse future of European innovation.

Brexit has increased costs, increased red tape, and slowed employment growth in the music industry. People from across the industry have been affected, from artists and crew unable to tour, to musicians and DJs who are losing out on bookings.

Joining Erasmus+ is essential for restoring young people's freedom, allowing them to study, work, and explore different cultures across Europe. This is a positive step.

Keeping everything crossed at #FestivalofEuropeScotland HQ! We hope the awful decision to leave #Erasmus the world’s greatest learning exchange programme can be reversed - and if so we will be celebrating even more at our 2026 Festival (May 7 - 17, 2026-).

One of my abiding impressions of Brexit is the way it slammed doors of opportunity in the faces of young people several rungs below Boris Johnson’s countless children on the ladders of privilege & advantage.

We could do with more of this sort of civic/politics education in schools in Scotland (and in the other countries of the UK) so that we all can learn about why the #ECHR is so important in protecting our rights.

A great example of the long cherished connections between #Scotland and its European neighbours.

Brexit means we are losing out on some of the biggest talent in the world, and some of the UK's biggest talent are emigrating to Europe. We must restore freedom of movement.

Richard Demarco became the 2025 Scottish European of The Year yesterday at the Scottish Parliament. “I thank the members of the European Movement in Scotland for this award and for lightening my spirits in these too often dark times.”

We've seen the mess that Brexit has caused, and a decade from the referendum, we're still paying the price. We must restore our relationship with Europe urgently.

Just leaving this here now from the Daily Telegraph:

A public inquiry on the management of Brexit would set the record straight, and maybe the BBC could run an impartial series for the 10th anniversary of the vote, making it easier for the government to show the courage and leadership to take us back into the EU. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Great to learn about #UK - #Ukraine Twinning Initiative, supporting research collaborations between Ukrainian + international higher education institutions. #HorizonEurope Particularly fitting that universities in #Edinburgh are involved, having #Kyiv as a twin city. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🇺🇦🇪🇺 www.twinningukraine.com

Great to learn about #UK - #Ukraine Twinning Initiative, supporting research collaborations between Ukrainian + international higher education institutions. #HorizonEurope Particularly fitting that universities in #Edinburgh are involved, having #Kyiv as a twin city. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🇺🇦🇪🇺 www.twinningukraine.com

The elections to the next Scottish Parliament are on Thursday 7 May 2026. Any resident of #Scotland, 16 or older (of any nationality), who has the legal right to stay here, can vote. Are you registered to vote? www.mygov.scot/voting-in-el... #ScotParl #ScotParl2026

The elections to the next Scottish Parliament are on Thursday 7 May 2026. Any resident of #Scotland, 16 or older (of any nationality), who has the legal right to stay here, can vote. Are you registered to vote? www.mygov.scot/voting-in-el... #ScotParl #ScotParl2026

Scotland's first ‘Stolperstein’ memorial for a Scottish Holocaust victim has been unveiled in Edinburgh to Jane Haining who was murdered by the Nazis in Auschwitz. Thanks to Haining family, faith leaders, civic representatives, diplomats and all who attended. #Stolperstein

At COP30, the UK and EU worked together to toughen the deal and keep climate action alive. Now we need that same partnership on climate every day, not once a year. www.europeanmovement.co.uk/cop_uk_eu_co...

European Movement UK polled people across Britain who believe Brexit has damaged the economy, and 76% of them want the UK in the Single Market and Customs Union so taxes can come down without gutting everything else.

European Movement UK polled Britons on how to fund the NHS and public services, and 76% backed joining the Single Market and Customs Union as the best way to bring in the money those services need.

Protecting #HumanRights We need the #ECHR

"These estimates suggest that by 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time.” National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Mass. Reported in The Herald Scotland today by Ian McConnell.

European Movement UK polled Britons on how to fund the NHS and public services, and 77% backed joining the Single Market and Customs Union as the best way to bring in the money those services need.

The OBR is clear that the UK’s trade slump is being made worse by Brexit, which continues to drag on growth at the very moment we need the opposite.

The OBR could not be clearer today. Weak growth is tied to Brexit, which they now expect will leave UK trade 15% smaller in the long term.

The Chancellor wants to "boost trade, increase investment, and champion innovation", but is failing to fix one of the principal causes of the economic crisis: Brexit. The Government must urgently repair our relationship with Europe, or else forthcoming Budgets will continue to bear the brunt.

🇪🇺🇬🇧 The European Parliament debates its second evaluation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, in force since May 2021 It reviews what works, what needs attention and what requires ongoing monitoring with civil society involvement. Watch live 👉 www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/h...

New polling from European Movement UK shows that three quarters of people who see the economic damage of Brexit now back joining the Single Market and Customs Union to cut taxes and rebuild public services. The public knows the route to recovery, even if the Government refuses to face it.

Ministers may keep dodging the topic, but the Treasury's own figures prove that Brexit was a mistake. Weaker growth and higher costs are embedded in every forecast, and the economic wreckage is now impossible to hide.

As the Budget concludes, Sir John Major's words are more relevant than ever. Both the Labour Government and Conservative opposition are being wretchedly timid in their policy aspirations. They must confront the consequences of Brexit if they want to prevent further damage.

Brexit is the reason today’s Budget squeezes families, yet the government is still shuffling towards solutions that demand real urgency. We need far bolder steps back towards the single market if we want future budgets that lift people up rather than drain them.

It is with great sadness that EMiS has learned of the sudden death of David Gow. David was a stalwart of EMiS for many years following his retirement from The Guardian, where he was latterly European Business Editor. Please read more here: www.facebook.com/EuroMoveScot...

@guyverhofstadt.bsky.social: “The European Union… brought 80 years of peace, stability, growing prosperity and liberal democracy to the continent. All the evidence is that the people of Scotland and of the UK wish they were still in the EU.” euromovescotland.org.uk/guy-verhofst... #RejoinEU 1/2…

Demarco Honoured with award Richard Demarco named Scottish European of the Year at EMiS Annual Dinner. A lifetime of cultural leadership and European vision.

3. Europe at a Crossroads Verhofstadt: “The EU is one of the greatest political achievements in history.” Let’s not take it for granted. Verhofstadt warns of rising authoritarianism, global instability, and the need for unity. Europe must respond — together.

1. Guy Verhofstadt in Edinburgh “Europe’s political moderates must urgently counter threats to stability and prosperity.” A powerful call to action from Guy Verhofstadt at the EMiS annual dinner. The time for complacency is over.

Edinburgh welcomes Guy Verhofstadt, President of European Movement International (and former Belgian Prime Minister, MEP), ahead of his keynote speech at EM in Scotland annual dinner. #RejoinEU #LeaveALightOn 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺

#Edinburgh welcomes @guyverhofstadt.bsky.social, President of European Movement International (and former Belgian Prime Minister, MEP), ahead of his keynote speech at EM in #Scotland annual dinner. #RejoinOurEU 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺 With Depute Lord Provost @lezleymarion.bsky.social, @benmacpherson.bsky.social MSP.

Recent polling has shown that the majority of Brits think Brexit has been a failure, and the Chancellor herself has admitted that there is public support for increased deals with the European Union - so why aren't they doing more to reverse the mistake of Brexit?

After ministers have started to admit the damage of Brexit, the World Trade Organisation has now cited it as a key reason for the downturn in global goods trade since 2018. The narrative is shifting and the tide is turning: Brexit was sold as a lie.

Enabling freedom of movement is vital for strengthening the UK economy, and rejoining the Erasmus+ programme would be an important step towards achieving this.