Dr Irene Oldfather on the work of the Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe (SAFE) to champion youth mobility
I established the Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe (SAFE) in May 2023, amidst a challenging moment in UK-EU relations when Brexit’s shadow was still looming large.
I have to admit, it was hard to predict how much enthusiasm there would be for a civil society platform to discuss ways to better navigate Scotland’s relationship with Europe.
Two years later, we’ve built a healthy membership of 40 organisations from academia, business and the third sector across Scotland and firmly cemented ourselves on Scotland’s civil society landscape as a non-political group ensuring Scotland’s voice continues to be heard in Europe.
Our work has already been recognised through key milestones, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and our shortlisting for the EU Empower Awards for Outstanding Achievement.
A key strand of our work now includes our Sub-Committee on Young People, which brings together young people (aged 18-30) passionate about Scotland-EU relations.
We provide young people from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to attend youth conferences and speak at international European youth events like the forthcoming European Youth Event in Strasbourg. Engaging the next generation will be vital in ensuring that Scotland’s relationship with Europe continues – not just in principle but in practice.
SAFE members regularly engage high profile stakeholders at our events. In the last year, we’ve hosted the EU ambassador to the UK, Scottish Government and most recently SAFE hosted the UK Government minister for Europe – just one week before the UK-EU Summit to listen to the voice of Scottish civil society.
During the meeting, a member of our youth participation group asked the minister directly: ‘is the UK Government listening to young people on the issue of youth exchanges?" It was a reminder that too often, Europe is viewed narrowly as a matter of foreign affairs - when in fact, it is about citizens’ rights.
Take Erasmus+, for example - often there is a myth that youth mobility schemes like Erasmus+ only benefits middle-class university students. That’s simply not true.
Erasmus+ offers life-changing opportunities for young people – not just students – from across the spectrum to develop skills, gain life experience, learn languages and work and volunteer across Europe.
We also need to better communicate how our relationship with Europe affects everyday lives. From the cost of food in supermarkets and access to medicines, to product safety, energy prices and climate action - these are not abstract policy debates. They are core social determinants of health and wellbeing that shape the lives of people and communities across Scotland.
As we look ahead to the UK–EU Summit, it’s important to not take for granted the notion that youth mobility was going to be a key part of the negotiations. I have seen first-hand at youth events across the UK that our young people have been studiously building bridges and championing this cause to ensure it’s at the top of the agenda.
Therefore, it is vital that we celebrate the efforts of all those championing youth mobility as it will serve the next generation and strengthening the UK’s relationship with our closest neighbours.
Dr Irene Oldfather is chair of the Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe (SAFE), vice-chair of the UK Domestic Advisory Group on the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and director of strategic partnerships and external affairs at the Health and Social Care Alliance (The ALLIANCE).
