COSLA to campaign to remain in the EU

COSLA has agreed to campaign to stay in the European Union.

Councillors felt that the ability to directly influence the EU agenda from within was an important part of the current arrangement, although they felt that this could and should be improved upon.

The decision, taken at COSLA’s full convention in Edinburgh today, has cross-party support.

COSLA president Councillor David O’Neill said: “Given the importance of the issue we took a paper on the EU referendum to our full convention and I am pleased to say that there was agreement from the political groups within COSLA that we would campaign to remain within the European Union.

“Councillors felt that this was the right thing to do given the social, economic, environmental, political and peace dividends being part of Europe brings.

However, Councillor O’Neill added that after the referendum, whatever the outcome agreement needs to be reached to “strengthen subsidiarity and the role of local self-government.”