This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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External relations priorities and achievements
09/09/2003
Finance and Public Services Minister Andy Kerr appeared
before the European and External Relations Committee for
the first time today to outline the Executive's external
relations achievements and priorities.
He said:
"Our External Relations priorities are clear - to
promote our devolved policy interests, to build mutually
beneficial links with regions and countries of the EU and
beyond, to promote a positive image of Scotland overseas,
and to maximise the effectiveness of our relations with the
UK - and have delivered real results.
"We have fostered social, cultural and economic links in
all corners of the globe, and built on Scotland's
recognition throughout the world. At a time of change in
Europe, we are focussed on what is important for
Scotland.
"The Executive is working hard to promote Scotland and
ensure our voice is heard in Europe and internationally. I
believe we have made significant progress and believe any
suggestions to the contrary are very wide of the mark.
"The Executive and the European Committee have, on the
whole, worked well together. But there is no doubt we can
improve how we work together - and, in this second term of
the Parliament, I am keen to ensure we work even closer
together for Scotland to influence the development of EU
policy."
The Scottish Executive's External Relations strategy has
four main objectives:
* To promote Scottish devolved policy interests in the
EU and internationally.
* To build mutually beneficial links with regions and
countries of the EU and beyond.
* To promote a positive image of Scotland overseas.
* To maximise the effectiveness of our relations with
the UK Government
The Minister went on to specify the achievements already
made in these areas including:
* The very constructive working relationship which led
to a joint UK-Devolved Administration paper on Europe and
the Regions. This was submitted to the Future of Europe
Convention by Peter Hain, ahead of the 6-7 February
Convention Plenary debate. The paper discussed the full and
proper involvement of regions in EU decision-making, and
many of its proposals are reflected in the draft
Constitution for Europe produced by the Convention.=20
* The close work with the UK Government as the draft
Constitution is discussed in the forthcoming
Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).
* The close work with REGLEG partners, agreeing a
Declaration on the Future of Europe last November, endorsed
by 40 Minister-Presidents of Regions with Legislative
Power, and continuing to promote regional interests with
key European figures. The First Minister will take over the
chairmanship of this premier league of EU Regions for a
year, starting in November this year.
* The 4 Co-operation Agreements with powerful and
influential Regions - Catalonia; Tuscany; North
Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria.
* The signing of 2 Action Plans for taking these
agreements forward - with Catalonia and Tuscany.
* The Executive's continuing active role in formal
organisations of regional authorities, including the
Committee of the Regions, the Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities of Europe, and the Conference of
Peripheral Maritime Regions. =20
* Several Promoting Scotland events, including in
Stockholm, Paris and Washington DC over the past year.
The Scottish Cabinet discusses European issues relating
to Scotland on a regular basis, and every six months it has
a strategic discussion on the Executive's priorities for
the Presidency. This strategic discussion includes the
examination and endorsement of Cabinet Ministers' EU
priorities for the Presidency within their portfolios.
The priorities for the Italian Presidency.