FOR the first time in more than 30 years next year will see both a General Election in the UK and a presidential election in the US.
But there’s another election that could be just as important that no one seems to have on the radar yet: The European Parliamentary Elections that will be held in May.
If you’re inclined to shrug and think this doesn’t matter, think again, because with sweeping EU reforms now on the table, the next EU Parliament is promising to be the most consequential ever. Above all it will oversee a historic expansion of the EU.
READ MORE: Scotland 'would be welcomed back to EU with open arms'
Putin’s war and Ukraine’s just desire to join the EU has led to serious discussions about substantial EU reforms, which could include treaty changes and transform the EU as we know from a close-knit family of nations into a larger and more democratic union.
Ukraine, Moldova and several Balkan states are officially in line as the immediate beneficiaries of EU expansion. Meanwhile, Scotland won’t be part of these plans for enlargement, or even partake in the EU’s discussions about it, unless we all make a collected effort to put Scotland on the agenda.
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It will be up to the Scottish people to decide what kind of relationship Scotland wants with the EU and with the other UK nations. However, as European citizens we want to ensure that in Europe doors remain open and options remain on the table also for Scotland as plans for enlargement are drawn.
Due to Brexit, these EU elections will be the first in which Scots cannot vote. We at Europe for Scotland campaign to bring the Scottish voice back into European debates. While we cannot speak for Scots, we can offer Scots a platform to make their voices heard.
That’s why we’re launching a new petition for Scots to express their dismay over Brexit and to ask Europeans to remember Scotland’s continued desire to return to an EU that would only be better with Scotland in it.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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