Hansard

In the past four years, as convener of the European and External Relations Committee, I have learned a lot about Europe, including a lot about its strengths. The basic principle of the EU is that it is a peacemaker, with a strong and positive corporate self-interest in ensuring the safety and protection of all the nations. There are weaknesses and sometimes tensions, and the transatlantic trade and investment partnership is a good example of that. I commend to colleagues the committee’s report on that partnership.

The EU is a pragmatic creation. In spite of its huge size, the answers to challenging situations can usually be found. There is an underlying consensus that is not much discussed. It is just there because all the member nations want pretty much the same things—they want equality, fairness, tolerance, and our human rights to be protected and they do not want illegal wars—and they have an overarching European Parliament that upholds those values. That can be difficult, given some of the Eurosceptic MEPs who were elected in the most recent elections, some of whom have called for the human rights laws to be abolished.

The EU has another side: it is also a vast trading market of 500 million people and 22 million businesses. Scotland’s substantial export markets are constantly building trade with our European partners. However, when it comes to the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, there are serious concerns to be addressed, with the protection of public services being paramount.

The EU is much more than a simple free trade association. The EU principles reflect those of the Scottish Government. We welcome the role that the EU plays in protecting the social welfare of its citizens, including people who need to claim benefits. We seek to influence the decisions that will impact on us daily. We want to work from within the EU, not be forced out by a right-wing, UK Independence Party-friendly Westminster Government. We know that Europe is where we need to be for trade, the free movement of people, our own human protection and the great cultural melting pot that is this bloc of nations, each with its unique background and history.

Last Wednesday night, I had the great privilege and pleasure of hosting the Latvian ambassador, who brought some of the most amazingly talented musicians to play some Rachmaninoff for us. However, they finished with their own rendition of “Loch Lomond”, which was the most beautiful piece of music that I have ever heard in my life.

Let us not forget the foundations and origins of Europe. Let us not forget the founder countries, which all tell their own stories. They are France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. We do not have to go far to understand the reasons for the foundation of the EU.

I do not want an in/out referendum. The Scottish Government does not want one but, once again, we are being shoved into a battle that we do not need or support. I want changes in Europe but the mechanisms are already in place for us to work towards them. The existing treaties provide the framework. There is no need to try to renegotiate them now, no matter how big members want to appear in front of their colleagues at Westminster.

As is often the case, the EU institutions will not do much of their own publicity. The shrill voices of extremists—I use the word deliberately—will be as loud as they are daft, but Scots are not fooled by that nonsense. While David Coburn slings abuse at our Minister for Europe and International Development, he is happy to pick up the €5 million or so that he will collect for staffing, his salary and expenses but denigrate the institution that gives him that opportunity.

If we are to be forced into a referendum, we will demand that, as Scotland is one of the four nations that David Cameron has called on many occasions “this family of nations”—it was only a family of nations during the independence referendum and does not seem to be one now—in which each is an equal member, its decision will need to be the same as that of England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the vote to be carried. It is neither democratic nor legitimate to tolerate a situation in which one of the family imposes its will upon the other three. I am very disappointed that Labour will not back that very important right as an equal member of the said family of nations.

Members might remember the former president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. Everybody listened to him during the Scottish referendum and perhaps they should listen to him now. He said:

“What will be the influence of Britain, or the Prime Minister of Britain, if he was not part of the European Union? His influence would be zero.”

Before Mr Cameron sails off into the sunset with his union jack flying and his supporters from UKIP applauding his achievement, he needs to think very carefully about his job prospects as well as those of the people of the UK. The sunset might well turn out to be an exit from the strong and protective arms of his much-valued family of nations.