This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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FM given important role in shaping new Europe
26/04/2002
First Minister Jack McConnell was today unanimously
given responsibility for drafting and presenting the final
Opinion to the Committee of the Regions on delivering more
accountability, transparency and effectiveness in the EU,
at a meeting of the Committee's Commission for
Constitutional Affairs and European Governance in
Brussels.
Mr McConnell will be the Rapporteur on a major Opinion
that will be submitted to the Convention which is examining
the future of Europe, raising Scotland's profile and
influence in this important debate.
He said:
"Europe must be more relevant to our communities and
more in touch with the citizens of Europe. The new,
enlarged European Union will be more effective as a
result.
"I will ensure that this Opinion concentrates on making
a difference by promoting economic prosperity, social
justice and democracy in Europe.
"This decision reflects how seriously devolved Scotland
is taken on European Affairs. I will work in partnership
with local government, the Scottish Parliament, our MEPs
and the Secretary of State for Scotland to ensure that the
Opinion reflects Scottish opinion on these key issues."
Speaking during his intervention at the Committee of the
Regions Commission for Constitutional Affairs and European
Governance in Brussels, Mr McConnell said that a Europe
that was genuinely closer to its citizens could only be
developed on the principles of accountability, transparency
and effectiveness which underpin the work of the Scottish
Parliament.
He added:
"The debate on the Future of Europe must remain relevant
to all our communities.
"It is particularly important to ensure that the
proposals for the governance of the new, enlarged Europe
are based upon strong democratic credentials and involve
all institutions which promote citizen's involvement in
democracy. The creation of the Scottish Parliament has done
much to bring government closer to the people in Scotland
and the new Europe must build on that sort of change.
"Securing a new Europe needs a partnership where
government at all levels - EU, UK, devolved Scotland, MEPs,
local government, the business community, trade unionists
and the voluntary sector - work in partnership to respond
to the challenges that face Europe.
"We share many challenges with our partners elsewhere in
the UK and Europe and have much to gain from working
together and can only lose from drifting apart.
"We have a shared commitment and determination to
improve the lives of our people across Europe and all
recognise that investment in the priorities of health,
education, transport, crime and jobs requires us to share
ideas and learn from new approaches.
"We should seek to increase the involvement of the
Parliaments in Europe giving national and devolved
parliaments a greater role.
"We must all work together to secure a Europe that is
genuinely closer to the citizen and promotes peace and
security elsewhere in the world. When it acts with
flexibility, diversity and dynamism the European Union has
a record of success. But let's be more accountable, more
comprehensible. Let's aim to build on our success."
The Opinion covers key questions connected with
increasing the European Union's democratic legitamacy and
transparency in the existing institutions, the contribution
of national parliaments to this democratic legitimacy and
ways of making the decision-making process more effective
and improving the operation of the institutions in an
enlarged Union. The Opinion will examine the role of the
Committee of the Regions in the future institutional
architecture and the contribution of regional parliaments
to the democratic legitimacy of the European Union.
The Commission's Opinion is scheduled to be agreed by
the full Committee of the Regions in November this year
after which it will be submitted to the Convention on the
Future of Europe.