That the Parliament welcomes the European Showmen’s Union (ESU) to Edinburgh for its 43rd national congress from 21 to 23 January 2025; understands the event will bring together delegates from 17 countries to celebrate the ties between The Showmen's Guild of Great Britain and its European counterparts to discuss current topics, such as safeguarding the industry and the preservation and promotion of European fairgrounds, and to promote friendly cooperation and international understanding; notes that the international industry meeting, which takes place every two years, is being held in Britain for the first time; further notes that the ESU was founded to promote cooperation between the member countries and to create a common voice for the fairground industry and the future of the fairgrounds as a cultural asset; understands that it is one of the oldest European professional organisations, with over 70,000 members; believes that hosting the Congress in Edinburgh will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase Scotland’s rich heritage and the history of Scotland's showpeople communities, highlighting their contributions to European and international cultural exchanges, and commends the ESU for what it sees as its continued commitment to supporting the livelihoods of showmen and showwomen and ensuring that their voices are represented in policy discussions at all levels.
Supported by:
Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Stephanie Callaghan, Jackson Carlaw, Annabelle Ewing, Murdo Fraser, Emma Harper, Clare Haughey, Bill Kidd, Rona Mackay, John Mason, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Annie Wells