The European Movement UK welcomed the meeting of European Movement National Councils on Monday 4 December from the islands of Ireland and Britain to discuss the impact of Brexit on these islands, their people and the nations we represent.
The event was hosted by European Movement Scotland in association with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and held in The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
In a joint statement issued following the event, European Movement National Councils from across the two islands said: “At the heart of our concerns is the lives of citizens. Working together in Europe for over 40 years has put Europe at the centre of citizens’ lives, whether they are students, in business, or in other walks of life. It is important to ensure that the concerns and aspirations of citizens from all parts of these two islands are represented in the Brexit negotiations.”
“Today we once again committed to working together over the crucial coming weeks, months, and indeed years, to ensure that the common issues faced by all our citizens are properly reflected in the debate. We reconfirmed our agreement that it is essential that all parts of the two islands should continue to collaborate to do so.”
“The European Movement is about bringing Europeans together and therefore ensuring that every part of these two islands has a voice in the Brexit negotiations.”
Michael Young, CEO of the European Movement UK, said:
“Now at a time when the political situation is fraught and volatile, it is more important than ever to remember that the European Movement, founded after the Second World War, has at its very core the aim of bringing people across Europe together to foster peace and cooperation.
“The European Movement UK is committed to working with our European partners and neighbours in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and on the continent to advance this aim and the principles which underlie our Movement.
“Our campaign to keep the UK within the EU is a central focus - with more supporters joining us all the time: we do not believe that Brexit is in the best interests of the UK. We must not allow the divisive impact that Brexit is having - for example, by opening up the question of a new hard border on the island of Ireland - to jeopardise the opportunity for a peaceful future.”
Speakers who addressed the Two Islands: Brexit event in Edinburgh were:
- Bill Rodger, European Movement in Scotland
- Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, Edinburgh West
- Remarks by Hilary Arrowsmith, European Movement UK
- Remarks by Noelle O’Connell, European Movement Ireland
- Remarks by Ian Parsley, European Movement Northern Ireland
- Remarks by Jayne Richmond, European Movement Wales
- Hans-Hartwig Blomeier, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung