24 November 2016

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has briefed EU Ambassadors on the Scottish Government’s ongoing work to protect Scotland’s place in Europe.

The First Minister spoke at a lunch for EU Ambassadors in London, hosted by the Slovakian Ambassador to the UK Lubomir Rehak and attended by Cabinet Secretary for Europe Fiona Hyslop.

Thanks 2 @ScotGovFM @NicolaSturgeon 4 useful lunch talk with EU Ambassadors on EU issues at @SLOVAKIAinUK @eu2016sk pic.twitter.com/Mm4MDYATju

— Ľubomír REHÁK (@RehakLubomir) November 22, 2016

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

This was an opportunity to engage with EU Ambassadors on our work to protect Scotland’s place in Europe and to reiterate our clear position that the 180,000 EU nationals living in Scotland are welcome and valued.

“All of those European citizens – as well as those living in other parts of the UK – should be given an assurance by the UK Government without any further delay that their residency status here is secure.

“The Scottish Government is determined to explore all avenues to ensure our future as a European nation and we will publish our specific proposals to protect Scotland’s interests and maintain our relationship with Europe shortly.”