Poliosh Cultural Festival Association has teamed up with Public Policy Events and a range of organisations in a project aimed at providing advice and information for EU citizens in Scotland.
There are more than 200,000 people in Scotland who are nationals of other EU member states. Many of them are concerned about what will happen after Brexit.
This project provides basic advice and information for EU citizens in Scotland. We have produced an information factsheet, which is being produced in a number of European languages.
We’ve already held information days – public consultation and awareness events – in a number of cities in Scotland – Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. We’re now planning a second series of events. The exact locations are still to be finalised, but will include Dundee, Perth, Ayr and Livingston, and possibly others.
Each events features expert speakers followed by a Question and Answer session.
The panel of speakers includes legal, civic society, and EU policy experts. As well as the panel session, there are stalls, displays, and leaflets to take away from advice, information and local government agencies.
Our first event was held in Inverness on 14 April, and there’s a brief report of the day here . Similar events were held in Edinburgh (28 April), Aberdeen (30 April) and Glasgow (Wednesday 2 May). All the events were free and open to the public, and each of them was very well attended both by EU nationals, and by others interested or concerned about the issues.
You can find out more about our future plans on this website, and also on twitter @CitzRights and our Facebook Page @EURightsProject.
​ The project:
Delivered by Public Policy Events in association with Polish Cultural Festival Association; New Europeans Scotland; Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council – ELREC; Centre for Scottish Public Policy; Migrants Scotland: and (for public events) Drummond Miller solicitors.
It was financially supported by the European Commission Office in Scotland. Media partner was Emito.net – UK's Polish Community Online. A wide range of other organisations participated in the programme:
Migrant organisations: Polish Cultural Festival Association; Feniks Counselling, Personal Development and Support Services Ltd; Polish Aberdeen Association; Cosmopolita Scotland; Orgullo Migrante; Highland Multicultural Friends; New Europeans; The Welcoming; Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council – ELREC; West of Scotland Regional Equality Council – WSREC; Grampian Racial Equality Council – GREC; Migrants Scotland.
Other non-governmental organisations: Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Unite the Union, Unison, Shelter Scotland.
Governmental institutions: European Commission Office in Scotland, Romanian Consulate in Edinburgh, Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh, Consulate General of Germany in Edinburgh, Portuguese Consulate-General in Manchester, Honorary Consulate of Poland in Inverness, Honorary Consul of Romania in Inverness.
Media partner: emito.net
We have received financial assistance for this project from the European Commission Office in Scotland.
Project Actions
Public awareness and consultation events on EU citizens rights:
Four events, each featuring an expert panel and information stalls were held in total: in Inverness (14 April 2018), Edinburgh (28 April 2018), Aberdeen (30 April 2018) and Glasgow (2 May 2018), cities known to have a considerable migrant population. 450-500 people attended or visited the events.
Other activities:
Facebook, twitter, and web publicity and engagement. Media coverage in mainstream English language media, and also Polish, Spanish, and Romanian online media in the UK (and also in Poland).
Speakers provided for events organised by Feniks, The Welcoming, Edinburgh Napier University Migration Network, and participation with the European Commission at The Gathering and Europe Day.
Producing multilingual factsheets on impact of Brexit on EU27 nationals in Scotland
16,000 copies: in English, Polish, Spanish, Romanian, and Latvian.
Also available online for download and reproduction