BRITAIN may be moving closer to leaving the EU but councillors in Glasgow are refusing to sever ties with Europe

They have backed plans for a new international strategy, sending the message that the city remains open for business, students and visitors.

And they’ve also supported a pledge to the European Pillar of Social Rights, vowing to tackle homelessness across the city.

Council chiefs have launched an international strategy board to deal with the impact leaving the European Union could have.

It plans to enhance the city’s profile by attracting world class events, international students and business talent.

Read more: Will your passport be valid after Brexit?

David McDonald, Depute Leader of the council, will chair the board while Labour councillor Hanzala Malik, Green councillor Jon Molyneux and Tory councillor Thomas Kerr will take a place on the board.

Lord Provost, Eva Bolander, herself an EU National, who moved to Glasgow from Sweden, will also contribute.

Members, who will work in partnership with key sectors across the city, including universities, sport, culture and finance, hope to help young people engage with their counterparts across the world.

They also want to provide welcome and advice services to non UK EU nationals in Glasgow, as well as those from outside the EU.

Read more: Anti Brexit billboards arrive in Glasgow.

Glasgow has also become the first Scottish city to pledge to the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The council is a member of Eurocities, a network of local authorities from major European cities, which encourages members to pledge to the pillar, a set of 20 ethics built around equal opportunities, fair working conditions and social inclusion.

Councillors chose to pledge on principle 19, housing and assistance for the homeless.

Depute Leader David McDonald said: “The pillar was promoted by the EU in response to criticisms about its neglect of the social dimension of Europe in recent years.

“It has been viewed as a roadmap for delivering more effective citizens rights.

“I think there has been a general acceptance of the social pillar across Europe, even here in the UK, where I think it’s fair to characterise our relationship with Europe over the years, through various UK governments, as perhaps being reluctanct to accept what has sometimes been defined as Brussels diktat.

“I think this is an area where we can show real international leadership by agreeing to uphold the rights. We can promote them regardless of our constitutional relationship with the EU.”

The council outlined plans to reduce the number of people sleeping rough in the city centre every week by 75 percent.

A homelessness strategy, in line with a commitment to end street homelessness by 2030, involves investing £23m.

The council also say a £557 million housing plan, for 2019 to 2024, will provide almost 8,500 new affordable homes.