Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has told EU counterparts Scotland is “open for business” in spite of last week’s Brexit vote.
Mr Ewing met farming ministers from Germany, France and Ireland as well as Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg.
He told attendees he would continue to work with colleagues across Europe as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon seeks talks with EU institutions to protect Scotland’s place in the EU.
He said: “The European Union provides significant support to Scottish rural communities and is a key market for the food and drink we produce.
“At council today, I had the opportunity to stress that we are open for business and working to protect Scotland’s role in the EU.
“It is vital that other nations understand Scotland’s position and just as vital for our farming and food industry that we work quickly to safeguard the links and relationships that benefit them when it comes to trade.
“I also took the opportunity to speak to the UK Government to press for action on monkfish swaps into Scotland and a higher sustainable catch for herring – which would benefit our fishing industry.”
