The successful campaign for the UK to leave the European Union was characterised by a “rather sad” degree of fear, President Michael D Higgins has said.
Speaking on the first day of an official visit to Scotland, Mr Higgins said he was saddened by the UK’s decision to leave and expressed concern for the future of EU.
“(Fear) seemed to crowd out, if you like, all of the things that we the people of Europe can achieve together, that go far beyond the elimination of war – new responsibilities in relation to climate change, in relation to sustainable development, what we agreed in Paris, what we agreed in Rio, what the young people out there all over Europe are asking us to do.”
After a meeting with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, he said the EU must offer its peoples a positive vision.
“It is very important that what we now offer is not a recoil within a response of fear, but rather a positive emphasis on all of the things that we can do together, and we have just been discussing a number of these things that are already under way.
“The union came into existence on the basis that you would never again have war, particularly it was a great Franco-German achievement. We have moved beyond that point,” he said, adding that Europe needed to have a fresh conversation about “cohesion” in the wake of the Brexit vote.
“The discussions in which there was the most positive response to Europe were moments when people spoke about the union being a competitive entity in the global economy but also characterised by cohesion. It is a long time since we heard a good discussion of cohesion,” the President said.
’Important friend’
Today, Mr Higgins, who is accompanied by his wife, Sabina, will receive an honorary degree in Edinburgh. Tomorrow he will address the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.
Welcoming Mr Higgins, Ms Sturgeon described Ireland as “a very, very important friend to Scotland”, adding she looked forward to strengthening “the long-standing and very strong” ties that exist in the future.
“Ireland is also a member state of the European Union and as we seek to explore options to maintain Scotland’s positon in the European Union then we will be looking to have those conversations with Ireland as we will be with other European Union states,” she said.
Ms Sturgeon, the leader of the Scottish National Party, will address the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh today in a speech that will be followed by a vote that is expected to be carried easily and will give the Scottish government a “mandate” to begin talks with the UK government, the EU and others “to try and secure Scotland’s relationship with the EU and our place in the single market.”
She said: “I am very focused in the days and weeks and months ahead to try and build alliances and explore options for keeping Scotland in the European Union because for Scotland to be taken out of the European Union against her will has consequences that will be deeply damaging, and deeply painful and I don’t just want to stand by.”