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Scottish gov't seeks "immediate discussions" to protect Scotland's EU interests

Xinhua, June 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Scottish First Minister Nicoal Sturgeon said here Saturday that she will seek to enter into "immediate discussions" with Brussels to "protect Scotland's place in the EU".

Speaking outside the First Minister's official residence after the Scottish government emergency meeting, Sturgeon said that she will establish an advisory panel with experts to advise her on legal, financial and diplomatic matters to protect Scotland's EU interests after Britain voted to leave the EU while Scotland chose to remain.

The Scottish government had agreed to begin work on legislation that would allow for the option of a second independence referendum, said Sturgeon, who termed a second independence referendum as "highly likely" on Friday.

"We are determined to act decisively but in a way that builds unity across Scotland about the way forward," she noted, reiterating "a second independence referendum is clearly an option that requires to be on the table and is very much on the table".

"To ensure that that option is a deliverable one within the required timetable, steps will be taken now to ensure that the necessary legislation is in place. Cabinet this morning formally agreed that work," she added.

She added she will invite counsels of EU member states in Edinburgh to meet to discuss the issue.

She also assured the business industry that Scotland is still a safe place to do business.

Britain voted on Thursday in a historic referendum to leave the EU after 43 years in the bloc. The Leave campaign received 51.9 percent of the votes, against 48.1 percent for the Remain side.

However, Scotland voted 62 percent in favor of remaining in the EU, with the majority in each council of its 32 local authority areas voting to remain.

The majority of Scots chose to stay in Britain in the 2014 independence referendum. Endit