Scottish Government
Printable version

Stay in Scotland

Support pledged for EU citizens.

EU citizens living in Scotland are to be supported to remain in Scotland during and beyond the uncertainty associated with an EU exit, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The First Minister made a commitment to EU citizens that Scotland remains their home as she promised to continue to make a strong case for their rights to be protected in any EU exit scenario.

She has written an open letter to EU citizens to confirm a new ‘Stay in Scotland’ package that will consist of:

  • £250,000 for community based support across Scotland
  • a support and advice service for EU citizens with more complex needs or particular challenges
  • a toolkit for employers, including posters, factsheets, digital content and guide directing EU citizens to further guidance
  • social media activity using the hashtag #StayinScotland

It follows the Scottish Government, along with others, successfully pushing the UK Government to scrap the £65 “settled status” fee.

The First Minister made the announcement as she visited a new £14 million housing development in Easterhouse, meeting construction workers and housing association staff from EU nations.

She recently said:

“It is vital for our communities and our economy that EU nationals know they are welcome and will be supported to stay in Scotland.

“Immediately after the EU referendum I wrote to EU citizens living in Scotland highlighting that Scotland overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU and that I considered them to be very much part of the fabric of this country.

“I am writing again today with the same message: you are welcome here, you contribute to this country’s diversity and richness and we will do everything we can to help you to stay.

“We will continue to argue for further change as necessary to the UK Government’s Settlement Scheme. And we will provide practical advice directly and through businesses and community groups.”

Background

A copy of the recent open letter sent from the First Minister to EU citizens is available here.

Read more about the ‘Stay in Scotland’ campaign here

More information about the support and advice service is available at Citizen’s Advice Scotland.

Further information on the UK's possible exit from the European Union (Brexit) and how it may affect people and businesses in Scotland is available here.

 

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

Original article link: https://news.gov.scot/news/stay-in-scotland

Share this article

Latest News from
Scottish Government