The best future for Scotland will be as an independent country inside the European Union, the External Affairs Secretary has said.<\/p>\n
Angus Robertson issued the statement as the Scottish Government<\/a> marked Europe Day.<\/p>\n The annual event celebrates peace and unity on the continent.<\/p>\n He warned that the UK risked being \u201cmarooned\u201d outside the economic bloc as he hailed Scotland\u2019s \u201clong-standing shared values\u201d with Europe.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cOn Europe Day, we celebrate a lifetime of peace in Europe, achieved in no small part by the creation of the European Union.<\/p>\n \u201cWith war having again returned to our continent, now is the time to stand together and heal the divisions of the past.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are unwavering in our belief that Scotland\u2019s best future lies as an independent country within the European Union.<\/p>\n \u201cThe current global economic volatility simply reinforces the importance of Scotland having the security, stability and opportunity that comes with EU membership.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout it, Scotland and the UK risk being marooned outside of the world\u2019s largest single market.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong><\/p>\n Mr Robertson said becoming a member of the EU again would reduce barriers to trade, bring free flows of data and reduce bureaucracy.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe would have access to a larger labour market with no restrictions on employing EU citizens to work in Scotland, sustaining businesses, universities, communities and public services.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the short term the UK Government<\/a> must negotiate the most ambitious deal possible with the EU at the upcoming summit meeting, including a comprehensive agreement to boost food and drink exports, a commitment to rejoin Erasmus+ and greater co-operation on energy.\u201d<\/p>\n Angus Robertson was speaking on Europe Day (Image: PA) Lorna Slater, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens<\/a>, said the case for developing closer ties to the EU \u201cgrows stronger each day\u201d amid the \u201cthreat\u201d posed by the far-right.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cEurope Day gives us a space to reflect on Scotland\u2019s past, present and future.<\/p>\n