Brexit
The people of Scotland voted decisively to remain in the European Union (EU) in 2016. Scottish Ministers continue to believe that re-joining the EU at the earliest opportunity as an independent country represents the best future for Scotland. We have set out our vision for an independent Scotland in the EU.
We are doing what we can to mitigate the damage of a Brexit that Scotland did not vote for, minimise divergence with the EU, and ease Scotland’s eventual return.
Brexit has changed the way Scotland engages with the EU, but it will not change our commitment to the EU. We remain committed to aligning with EU laws and standards, where it is possible and meaningful to do so. And we continue to engage and collaborate across a wide range of issues on the EU’s agenda, reflecting our shared values and goals.
Impact of Brexit on Scotland
Brexit continues to have a significant impact on Scotland. We have published a report (January 2025) which estimates that trade barriers due to leaving the EU will reduce Scottish GDP by at least £4 billion in the long run, measured in today’s GDP. We have previously set out wider impacts of Brexit for Scotland’s economy and society.
From 2023 to 2025 the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee held an inquiry on trade with the EU post-Brexit. The Committee has published a report on the first part of the inquiry (September 2024), focused on barriers to trade in goods.
Rebuilding closer cooperation
We welcome the UK Government’s stated intention to rebuild closer relations with the EU. There are many areas in which a closer partnership with the EU has potential to deliver mutual benefit for the people of Scotland and the whole UK, as well as the people of Europe. We have published papers on some of our key priorities for closer cooperation:
- Agrifood trading arrangements with the EU
- Closer energy and climate cooperation with the EU
- Erasmus+ reassociation
- Creative Europe reassociation
We stand ready to work collaboratively with the UK Government and wider partners to rebuild a closer relationship with the EU.
We also maintain information on our ongoing efforts to work with other UK administrations to manage retained EU law (now known as 'assimilated law').