European parliament ‘to retain office in Scotland after Brexit’

The European Parliament will retain its office in Edinburgh until 2020 despite Brexit.

Despite all UK MEPs leaving the European Parliament for good ahead of this year’s elections, the parliament’s president Antonio Tajani has decided the office in Scotland will be needed at least until the ‘transition period’ where the UK still operates under EU rules is up.

The office will support EU citizens living in Scotland.

The Scottish government told the BBC it hoped the office would become permanent.

A spokesperson for the Scottish government said: “we are pleased that the European Parliament is to retain its office in Edinburgh and hope that it will maintain a permanent presence.”

The European Parliament has already announced it will keep its office in London open.

The UK is due to leave the EU on 29th March.