Upon concluding their visit to Edinburgh on 21 June, MEPs expressed they hope for the UK to revise its decisions to opt out of EU culture, education and youth programmes.
The 6-MEP-strong delegation met Scottish educational institutions and representatives of students, cultural organisations, organisers of festivals focusing on cultural policy and touring artists, such as the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival, as well as with youth policy and volunteer organisations.
Members also visited the Scottish Parliament where they met their counterparts in the Committee for Education, Children and Young People and the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee.
Finally, they met Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Mr Angus Robertson and Minister for Culture and Europe, Ms Christina McKelvie, as well as Director of the UK Government Scotland Office Ms Lyn McDonald.
Head of delegation Niyazi KIZILYÜREK (The Left, Cyprus) said upon the conclusion of the mission: “In many of our conversations, it became clear that Brexit has had a fundamental and negative impact on the education, culture and youth sectors in Scotland.
We hope, that one day, the UK government will revise its unilateral decision and rejoin EU programmes such as Erasmus+, Creative Europe and the European Solidarity Corps.
In the meantime, we will continue to look for practical solutions to mitigate the loss of opportunities for students, teachers, artists, creative workers and young people.
The delegation’s findings will also feed into the committee’s ongoing work on drafting an opinion on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.”
The delegation also included: Hannes HEIDE (S&D, Austria),
Diana RIBA I GINER (Greens/EFA, Spain), Maria WALSH (EPP, Ireland),
Iuliu WINKLER (EPP, Romania),
Morten LØKKEGAARD (Renew, Denmark)
