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Sturgeon urges EU to retain Edinburgh office after Brexit
By Glenn Campbell
Political correspondent, BBC Scotland
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged the EU to retain an office
in Edinburgh after Brexit.
The Scottish government is also seeking "active support" for the proposal from
the UK foreign office.
The EU has indicated that its future relations with the UK will be conducted
from London.
But Ms Sturgeon argues that keeping an outpost in Edinburgh would ensure
"continued close collaboration" after the UK leaves the EU.
The first minister wrote to the EU's high representative for foreign affairs,
Federica Mogherini, in the summer.
Her letter said there was a "strong case for the EU institutions to retain a
presence in Edinburgh" after Brexit.
'Friendly relationship'
She said: "Approaches taken in Scotland on devolved areas such as environment,
agriculture, fisheries and justice will be of practical interest to the EU."
SNP ministers also hope that one day Scotland will be a full member of the EU as
an independent country.
In her reply, Ms Mogherini said she wished to "maintain a close and friendly
relationship between Scotland and the European Union".
But she also indicated that the EU's Edinburgh office - which opened in 1975 -
would close when the UK leaves.
The EU's offices in Cardiff and Belfast also appear to be under threat.
Ms Mogherini said: "The common practice around the world, even with our biggest
and closest partners, is to have a physical diplomatic presence in the capital
only.
"The delegation in London will cover overall relations with the UK - that is
with England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales."
The Scottish government has not given up on the idea of continued EU
representation in Edinburgh.
External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop has written to UK Foreign Secretary
Jeremy Hunt seeking his backing.
The foreign office has yet to comment on his position.
'Third countries'
After two years of Brexit negotiations, the UK and the EU are in the final
stages of negotiating a withdrawal agreement.
The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March next year.
It will be for the EU to decide how best to represent itself in the UK. The EU
does have offices outside the capital cities of some "third countries" for
example Hong Kong in addition to the Beijing office in China.
But Ms Mogherini has said this only happens where there are "very specific
political and commercial reasons".
The BBC understands the EU may be persuaded to retain an office in Belfast
because of the peace process, but its offices in Edinburgh and Cardiff are
expected to close.
At a Holyrood reception on Wednesday, the Austrian ambassador to the UK, Michael
Zimmerman, touched on the issue of future relations.
He said: "When the institutional ties between the UK and EU reduce, we have to
strengthen the human ties.
"Brexit will not be an excuse not to co-operate."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46137344