Scotland will elect a new parliament in May and the Scottish National Party (SNP) is currently leading the elections. They want to go back to the European Union. With an independent Scotland, without Britain – but in close partnership with Bavaria.
This was confirmed by SNP politician Joan McAlpine, who was a guest on the European Committee of the State Parliament. There, MPs were open to Scotland’s return to the European Union, including committee chairman Tobias Gothardt: “If the Scots so desire, the Scots must also have a chance to return to the EU.”
RinderSpatcher: Return depends on several conditions
For Marcus Rinderspcher, the spokesman for European policy for the SPD parliamentary group, there are still many question marks about Scotland’s re-entry into the EU: “When Scots declare that they are members of the European Union after gaining independence. Want to be. The referendum and London also finally agree, so we would certainly welcome it if the Scots were very close to Europe or even a member of the European Union.”
Bohm: See the United Kingdom as a Community
AfD MP Martin Baum, on the other hand, criticizes an independent Scotland: “We see the United Kingdom as one community and I am concerned whether the United Kingdom is so good for the future of this union if it is divided.” Will happen. “
Regional parliaments have a shared history
In the next few years, Bavaria would initially rely on closer cooperation and would also refer to common history.
The Scottish Territorial Parliament was established in 1998. At the time, the Bavarian state parliament provided its rules of procedure as a blueprint – and has since been regarded as the godfather to the parliament in Edinburgh.
Historical ties that have become even more important since Brexit. Gothardt, the chairman of the committee, insisted on this. Scots have made their European orientation clear in recent years, and now they want to tackle future topics such as artificial intelligence or innovations in agriculture together, Gothard says.
“Every upheaval is also a departure. And since we are a strong partner, this is an opportunity to really build something new on the ruins left by Brexit.” (Tobias Gothardt, Free Voter)
Scottish MEP McAlpine is also looking forward to a fresh start after Great Britain withdrew from the European exchange program for students Erasmus Plus.
Greens and SPD want to strengthen student exchanges
Erasmus back to Scotland – Bavaria would also benefit from this, SPD politician Rinderspcher explained: “Great Britain has over 150,000 EU students who are currently faced with the question: hmm, would it be more expensive to study there on the island It’s been and it’s happening. It’s more difficult and that’s where it’s good if we have advocacy in our immediate sphere of influence.”
Support also comes from the Greens. When it comes to Erasmus, the collaboration with European partners is directly visible to the citizens of Bavaria, Florian Sieckmann said: “Great Britain and Scotland are among the most popular destinations for pupils, students and apprentices in Bavaria. Too close contact, we want to keep it.”
The Committee of Europe in the state parliament once again outlined the close ties in a resolution. For committee chairman Gotthardt, the cornerstone for a long-term partnership has been renewed – regardless or right Because of Brexit,