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Scotland and Ireland together can demonstrate relevance of EU.

Scotland and Ireland can work together to reform the EU, encouraging it to focus on areas relevant to people’s lives, stimulating economic growth and creating jobs, External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop said yesterday.

Ms Hyslop stressed the Scottish Government’s belief that none of the nations of the UK should be removed from the EU against their wishes, as expressed in any future in-out referendum.

Speaking ahead of a speech in in Dublin to the Irish Institute of External Affairs this afternoon, Ms Hyslop said the Scottish Government wants the power to represent Scotland in the world – and that the Scottish Government would use this to drive forward reform of the European Union.

She argued that Scotland’s experience showed that people engage with politics when it is relevant to their lives – and said Scotland and Ireland can work together to move Europe’s focus to policies which are responsive to, and reflect, the aspirations and concerns of EU citizens.

Ms Hyslop said Ireland and Scotland can work together to influence the EU in such areas as such as tackling youth unemployment and inequalities while simultaneously addressing unnecessary regulatory burdens which restrict the EU’s competitiveness and act as a brake on economic growth.

For example, Ireland has already implemented the European Youth Guarantee, which states that under 25s should receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship or a traineeship within 4 months of leaving formal education or becoming unemployed. The UK Government has declined to implement the Guarantee.

The Scottish Government believes the guarantee should be implemented in Scotland and has no power to do so within the current devolution settlement but has presented the Smith Commission with proposals to enable it to do so.

Ms Hyslop said:

“The Scottish Government has been clear that we want the ability to represent Scotland’s interests internationally. We also wish to see new mechanisms that give us a stronger role in influencing UK foreign policy in areas where we are currently unable to formally contribute.

“We are making the case that additional powers should include specific competence for Scotland to act directly in the European Union.

“The Scottish Government is committed to membership of the European Union, and we believe that none of the nations of the UK should be removed from the EU against their will, as expressed in any in-out referendum.

“In line with our commitment to the EU, the Scottish Government has published an agenda for EU reform with the fundamental aim of bringing Europe closer to the citizen.

“We have witnessed within Scotland that political engagement soars when people can see the relevance of policy to their own lives, when they feel they are being listened to. It is my vision to see the level of engagement rise not only in my own country, but Europe wide.

“The Scottish Government’s focus will be to prioritise economic and social policies which reflect the fundamental aspirations and concerns of citizens right across Europe.

“At the heart of this is jobs and growth. Too many of Europe’s youth are currently out of work. This is a waste of more than just economic potential. The impacts can be far reaching as inequalities across our societies undermine social cohesion and further jeopardises sustainable growth over the longer term. The Scottish Government is doing all it can to tackle this problem and give our young people better opportunities – and we know the Irish Government also views this as an important issue.

“We know that we cannot achieve our goals in isolation, and we recognise that issues such as youth unemployment in Europe – be it in Spain, Portugal or Ireland – affect Scotland too.”

“Ireland is a valued partner for Scotland. Our relationship is based on a shared history, culture and language – and shaped by the longstanding friendship which lies at the heart of our positive relations.”