Are We Travelling Fast Enough? The Realities of Scotland Post-Brexit
As UK and EU leaders prepare to meet in Brussels on 20 November, attention is turning to the next steps in rebuilding and strengthening cooperation between the UK and Europe. Recent months have seen encouraging progress across a range of areas, including trade, research collaboration, energy cooperation and people to people connections.
For Scottish Civil Society, there is a growing concern that the UK must move further and faster to reconnect with Europe, not only politically, but in ways that deliver improvements to everyday life. Progress has started, but it is still too slow to meet the needs of people, organisations and businesses, directly affecting jobs, education, travel, trade and public services, shaping how individuals and communities experience life outside of the EU.
The Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe (SAFE), hosted by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), brings together voices from across civic society, academia, business and the third sector. Through this engagement, a consistent message has emerged: progress is welcome, but further action is needed to ensure Scotland can fully benefit from a stronger relationship with Europe.
Through my role as Chair of the Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe (SAFE), I regularly hear from representatives across civil society, academia, the third sector and business. While perspectives may differ, there is a common view that Scotland benefits when we are able to collaborate effectively with our European neighbours.
The upcoming summit provides an important opportunity to translate positive political relationships into practical action.
It was clear from a recent visit to Whitehall that intensive negotiations continue on a sector by sector basis around the implementation of the food and drink agreement, the Emissions Trading Scheme and a Youth Experience Scheme, with strong indications that discussions are also ongoing in relation to electricity and wider energy cooperation. It appears that, at UK level, we will see implementation plans emerge around both the food and drink agreement and the Youth Experience Scheme. While this progress is welcome and sits alongside broader discussions on electricity, energy and the implications of the emerging Made in Europe agenda, advancing the relationship through a series of individual sectoral agreements risks becoming a lengthy process. Made in Europe is one of the issues creating the greatest uncertainty for Scottish and UK businesses. Developed to protect EU markets from increasing competition from other major trading blocs, particularly China, it will need to evolve in a way that accommodates the UK or it risks creating significant challenges for key industrial sectors across Scotland and the wider UK.
There is little doubt that this issue will be at the forefront of discussions surrounding the summit. An incremental, sector by sector approach, which may be favoured by some within the EU, is unlikely to be sufficient. UK ministers must continue to press for an outcome that affords UK businesses protections and opportunities comparable to those available within the EU. This will not be an easy ask, and some Member States may take the view that the UK must accept the consequences of Brexit. However, many will also recognise that the UK remains a close neighbour, a major trading partner and an integral part of European supply chains. As a market with significant purchasing power and established industrial capabilities, the UK has the potential to add considerable value to this approach if included.
The Prime Minister's call for communities to engage in constructive conversations is therefore welcome because, without doubt, trade is not an abstract concept. It is about the price of food, the cost of energy, the availability of medicines and the safety of goods, all of which resonate deeply with communities across the UK.
Expanding Opportunities for Young People
One of the areas where progress could have the greatest impact is mobility, particularly for young people.
The ability to study, train, volunteer and work abroad helps young people develop skills, build confidence and establish lasting international connections. It is therefore encouraging to see youth mobility and wider people-to-people engagement continuing to feature in discussions about the future UK-EU relationship.
At a time when employers across many sectors are experiencing recruitment and skills challenges, creating greater opportunities for young people to gain international experience would benefit both individuals and the wider economy. A stronger framework for youth mobility would be a positive step for Scotland and for the long-term relationship between the UK and Europe.
Strengthening Research and Innovation
Scotland has a proud reputation for excellence in research, innovation and higher education.
The UK's association with Horizon Europe has been an important development, reconnecting researchers and institutions with European partners. However, the true value of international collaboration extends beyond funding. It lies in the exchange of knowledge, the development of long term partnerships and the ability to work together on complex challenges.
Whether in health and social care, life sciences, renewable energy or digital innovation, closer cooperation with European partners helps strengthen Scotland's ability to innovate and compete on the global stage.
Supporting Trade and Economic Growth
Many Scottish organisations and businesses continue to face challenges when trading with European partners.
Reducing unnecessary barriers, simplifying processes and supporting smoother movement of goods would provide meaningful benefits for businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises. There is significant potential for closer cooperation to support economic growth, investment and competitiveness while maintaining high standards.
This is not simply about addressing past difficulties. It is about creating the conditions for future prosperity.
Scotland and Europe face many of the same challenges, from demographic change and workforce pressures to climate change, public health and economic resilience.
These issues do not stop at national borders. They require cooperation, shared learning and a willingness to work together. Closer collaboration on research, innovation, climate action and renewable energy presents opportunities to improve outcomes for citizens while supporting sustainable economic growth.
In an increasingly complex and uncertain world, strong international partnerships matter more than ever.
As discussions continue about the future UK-EU relationship, it is also important that citizens and civil society organisations have a meaningful voice in shaping what comes next.
The relationship between the UK and Europe affects daily life in countless ways, from employment and education opportunities to research, public services and community development. Ensuring that these perspectives are reflected in future discussions will help create outcomes that are responsive to the needs and aspirations of people across Scotland.
Through SAFE, we have continued to bring together a diverse range of voices to discuss Scotland's place in Europe and the opportunities that stronger cooperation can create. Those conversations demonstrate a clear appetite for engagement, partnership and practical progress.
The summit on 20 November should be viewed not as an endpoint, but as another important step in strengthening the relationship between the UK and Europe.
Success will not be measured solely by announcements or agreements. It will be measured by whether people, communities and organisations experience real benefits in their everyday lives. The direction of travel is encouraging. The challenge now is to ensure that momentum is maintained and translated into meaningful outcomes.
For Scotland, that means creating more opportunities for young people, strengthening research and innovation partnerships, supporting economic growth and ensuring that citizens remain at the heart of future cooperation. The opportunity is there. We must ensure we make the most of it.
Dr Irene Oldfather is Chair of the Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe (SAFE) and Director of Strategic Partnerships, External Affairs and Outreach at the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
