Today is vital day: for you, and for all of us in the rest of Europe. You will vote on remaining or not in the European Union, a vote with huge implications for all of us. We are holding our breath.

The last few months, many of us have been following your deliberations, have commented on them, have signed petitions, attended meetings, engaged in rallies and sent photos to the #HugABrit campaignJ). We have observed which arguments and anxieties prevailed on either side of your debate, we have seen the internal politics behind some. In fact, we are very familiar with your political arena, and all its challenges… because it is so close to our own: we experience the same around us, everyday, in our own countries.

And it is therefore – on sober final reflection, on this rainy Thursday morning – that we plea with you to remain.  In this turbulent world of ours, there is so much more that unites us than divides us. There are our shared histories, there is our recognition that without British liberalism and humour, our European arena will be a much duller place. There is the shared desire to deal properly with the big transitions in our world in the face of painful inequities and uncertainties for many. There is the shared will to embrace diversity and couleur locale.

We know the European Union is a flawed institutional construct, but it is something we have built together and can therefore transform and fix together. ‘Better together’ is not an empty slogan. It is a strong sense that we need our European pluralism and our diverse styles of dealing with issues combined to be stronger together. Whether it is dealing better with a more sustainable economic future for our continent and the world, facing migration, creating dignified lives for all or ending the devastating conflicts and wars that uproot so many people: we need each other fundamentally to progress.

As Europeans, if we would unite our creativity and intelligence smarter, we could do so much better. We do not need to be one grey mass. We can stay sovereign in our spirit and intellectual variety. Because we believe in this creative force for the future we have started with others the movement Reclaim Europe. And whatever the outcome of your referendum: we will be back with you shortly!

But for today we ask you as neighbours and friends:

For that better Europe: Please Remain!

The Board  of the European Movement in the Netherlands