About
We are European Merchants, the Scottish political analysis firm in Edinburgh. We are Purveyors of Political Insight. Founded in 2019, the firm is managed by Anthony Salamone.
Mission
Leadership

Clare Little
Anthony Salamone
Managing Director
Anthony Salamone FRSA is Founder and Managing Director of European Merchants, the Scottish political analysis firm in Edinburgh. He is a leading Scottish political scientist, analyst and thinker. Anthony is equipped with more than a decade of experience in Scottish, European and international affairs. His primary fields of expertise rest in Scottish politics, EU politics and institutions, British politics and international relations. Anthony is an authority on Scotland’s European and external relations, Scottish paradiplomacy and soft power, and the politics of Scottish independence on Europe and foreign policy. He has further expertise in US politics, US foreign policy, transatlantic relations, European small states and modern diplomatic strategy. He is well acquainted with both the policy and academic spheres, particularly in Edinburgh, Brussels and London.
Anthony has degrees from and worked at the University of Edinburgh and the London School of Economics and Political Science. During his time at the University of Edinburgh, Anthony was Founding Managing Editor of European Futures, its academic blog on European affairs; Steering Group Member of the Edinburgh Europa Institute; Co-Convenor of the Edinburgh Europa Research Group; Founding President of the Edinburgh University European Union Society; Programme Assistant on the MSc International and European Politics; and Vice Convenor of the School of Social and Political Science. He created and was Lead Educator of Towards Brexit? The UK’s EU Referendum, the University’s Massive Open Online Course on FutureLearn during the 2016 EU referendum. At the LSE, he was Assistant Editor of the LSE European Politics and Policy (EUROPP) academic blog and President of the LSE Students’ Union European Society.
Anthony is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a Member of the Edinburgh Europa Institute and President Emeritus of the Edinburgh University European Union Society. He currently serves as a Member of the Citizens’ Panel of the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements. Anthony holds memberships of the Scottish Universities Legal Network on Europe, University Association for Contemporary European Studies, Council for European Studies and the Political Studies Association of the UK. He was previously Committee Member of the UACES Graduate Forum and Member of the Local Organising Committee for the 24th International Conference of Europeanists in Glasgow. He has a strong commitment to public debate on European and international issues, having organised and chaired numerous lectures, panel discussions and seminars on a multitude of themes, many of which have featured senior Scottish, UK and European figures.
Anthony runs the Scottish Statebuilder Project, the pioneering initiative to provide expert analysis on major questions about Scottish independence. He is Editor and Publisher of Political Courant, the Scottish analytical magazine published by European Merchants. Anthony is an experienced and versatile writer, editor and publisher. He has authored articles, op-eds, briefings, chapters, evidence, papers and major reports. He is a frequent public speaker and commentator, regularly contributing to media, publications and platforms across Scotland, Europe and the world. His media appearances include: The Scotsman, The Herald, The National, The Times, The Press and Journal, STV News, BBC News, Euronews, Politico Europe, EUobserver, Euractiv, RFI, Deutsche Welle, Le Figaro, L’Opinion, La Vanguardia, La Razón, La Presse, Daily Record, The Independent, City AM, Metro, The New European, Scotland on Sunday, The Herald on Sunday, Sunday National, The Sunday Times and The Sunday Post. His recent publications include landmark reports on Scottish EU membership and Scottish foreign policy under independence, a report for the Scottish Parliament on enhancing Scotland’s EU engagement, and an article for the Royal Society of Arts on Brexit’s transformation of Scottish politics.