But the Conservatives attacked the parties' message, branding it a "charade" and a Tory MEP, James Provan failed to turn up for the launch.

Political editor Brian Taylor watched the launch in Edinburgh

Labour and the SNP formed an uneasy alliance to mark the start of the Scottish end of the Britain in Europe campaign, the title of which proved contentious for the two parties.

Labour wanted the same Britain in Europe title, but the SNP insisted it should be changed to Scotland in Europe.

Brian Taylor: "It was a little awkward"

After days of wrangling a compromise was hammered out and the more lengthy name - Scotland in Europe as part of the Britain in Europe Campaign - was agreed.

The late changes meant the mobile poster displaying the slogan was still wet when it arrived for the launch in Edinburgh.

Alex Salmond: "We are entitled to have different opinions"

Mr Salmond told BBC Scotland: "Where we agree is that we are both pro-Europe and pro-euro.

"We are entitled to have different opinions and everybody in Scotland knows that the SNP stands for independence in Europe while Donald will settle for devolution."

Deputy First Minister and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Jim Wallace was also present. He said: The patriotic thing to do is to actually show that Scotland's destiny lies as part of a fully-fledged member of the UK in the European Union."

'Scottish pound'

Former Scottish and Foreign Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, launched the Tories' "Save the Scottish Pound" campaign and sought to exploit the differences between Labour and the SNP's policies.

Tories: "We're protecting the pound"

Sir Malcolm, who branded Mr Dewar and Mr Salmond's sharing of a political platform a "charade", was joined at the launch by the Scottish Conservative Chairman Raymond Robertson.

The accusation was flatly rejected by Mr Dewar, who retaliated: "We are making no pretence that we are one party.

"Alex Salmond and I and our parties have different aims and objectives in the long term.

Donald Dewar: Rejects the Tories' "charade" claim

"But what we want to do is engage people in the UK, in Scotland and the rest of the country, in a positive dialogue with the rest of Europe."

Tory MEP Struan Stevenson said: "Quite clearly the European election results in this country in June have shown that the British people are intent on keeping the pound.

"Labour, however, has now joined forces with the SNP in portraying everybody who doubts the benefits of the single currency as wanting to pull out of Europe altogether.

"This strategy of deceit is designed to force the country into submission by deliberately confusing the facts."

But Mr Salmond has said already that he believes the new pro-Euro initiative will find more common ground in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK.