A CROSS-PARTY group to ensure close bonds are kept and tightened between Europe and Scotland following Brexit was founded yesterday in Brussels by MEPs.

Scottish MEPs Aileen McLeod, Christian Allard and Heather Anderson from the SNP, as well as LibDem MEP Sheila Ritchie, met with MEPs from Germany, Poland and Sweden.

Europe Minister Ben MacPherson was also among those who attended the meeting of the European Friends of Scotland, which aims to strengthen and maintain Scotland’s relationship with the 27 remaining EU states.

“This is a sad week for Scotland, but it is also a time of hope,” the three SNP MEPs said in a joint statement.

“Our EU friends and colleagues have not turned their backs on us; they want us to stay, they want to maintain close links and contacts with Scotland, and they have seen the world of difference between the approach of the Scottish Government and that of the UK Government. We have had such a fantastic, warm welcome by everyone here with lots of support for Scotland going forward.”

READ MORE: MEPs sing Auld Lang Syne after voting to pass terms of UK’s exit

The statement added: “Scotland has built up excellent working relationships over our decades in the EU, and this will not go to waste, whatever Brexit brings. The setting up of such a friendship group underlines our commitment to continuing to maintain and develop a positive relationship with our European friends and partners whose values we share.

“Given the shared European and global challenges we all face, close links between the European Parliament and Scotland will be important as we work together to tackle these, such as the climate and environmental emergency.”

Members of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament held a candlelit vigil on Tuesday to show solidarity with Scotland’s vote to remain in the EU. In a tweet, German MEP Erik Marquardt quoted a speech made by the SNP’s Alyn Smith in 2019, where Smith urged the EU to remember Scotland was a European nation and independence would offer the country a “route back”.

Speaking in the European Parliament then, Smith said: “We celebrate international solidarity, we celebrate freedom of movement. If the European Union did not exist, we would need to invent something like it and Scotland would like to be part of it.”

READ MORE: Alyn Smith: This is not the end of our European story

He finished by saying: “Cher colleagues, I’m not asking you to solve our domestic discussions. I am asking you to leave a light on so we can find our way home.”

Referring to Smith’s speech Marquardt said: “My great Scottish colleague @AlynSmith said in his speech on #Brexit: ‘I’m not asking you to solve our domestic discussions, I am asking you to leave a light on, so we can find our way home.’ “So we did.”

Scottish Government minister Paul Wheelhouse wrote: “Danke, Erik! Mòran taing! For so many of us Friday will be a day of profound sadness and frustration, given [Scotland] is being dragged out against our wishes.” He added: “But it means a great deal to know goodwill remains among our [European] friends & neighbours. I hope we will rejoin you all before long!”