Councillors will consider the impact of Brexit on the north when they meet tomorrow, amid fears that the Highlands could lose out on millions in EU funding.
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson last night offered reassurance to European nationals living and working in the Highlands that they are “very much valued”.
A paper is being prepared which will be put before a meeting of the full council when they meet in Inverness tomorrow.
The Highlands benefits from up to “£100million every year in EU funding, the largest being from Common Agricultural Policy payments.
Other major sources of funding are drawn from the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund.
Mrs Davidson said: “The result of the referendum on Thursday will have considerable consequences for us all over the coming months and years.
“We will be working as a council to explore what this decision might mean for the Highlands and how we can best respond to that.
“I would like to give reassurance to the many European people of different nationalities who live and work in the Highlands, that they are welcome and their contribution to the Highlands is very much valued.
“These are very uncertain times and we will be setting up a group of members and officers to gather information, to look at impact analysis and scenario planning and to develop contingency plans.
“We will need to take soundings about what will be likely to happen in particular to current European funding commitments in the short and medium term future.”
She continued: “In the meantime, we must remain positive. Council business and services will continue as usual and we will endeavour to provide as much stability as we can during the uncertain times ahead.”