This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland's engagement in Europe
08/09/2003
Deputy Minister for Finance, Public
Services and Parliamentary Affairs Tavish Scott addressed a
conference in Edinburgh today to reiterative the Scottish
Executive's engagement in Europe.
He said:
"The Scottish Executive is only too aware of the
importance of European policy to
Scotlandand as a result we are very closely involved in and
engaged on EU issues.
"The Cabinet discusses European issues relating
toScotlandon a regular basis, and every six months it has a
strategic discussion on the Executive's priorities for the
Presidency, indeed it discussed the priorities for the
Italian Presidency last Wednesday.
"The First Minister has also recently established an
ad hoc group of Ministers on European Strategy.
This has been considering how the co-ordination of policy
with the UK Government can be sustained effectively, the
forthcoming European legislation and the wider European
reform agenda, along with the Scottish Executive's working
relationships with other parts of the EU.
"The Executive is committed to working with the
Parliament regarding developments inEurope. For example, tomorrow my colleague, Andy
Kerr, the Minister for Finance and Public Services, and the
Minister with responsibility for External Relations will
appear before the European and External Relations Committee
to discuss the Executive's priorities for the Italian
presidency of the European Union.
"The European Union will increase its membership by
ten in May 2004 and the Scottish Executive is strongly
supportive of enlargement and maintains close contact with
theUKgovernment over the implications forScotlandof enlargement. Enlargement of the EU will bring a
wide range of economic, political and cultural benefits, as
well as some challenges.
"Scotland also has a great deal to
offer Accession countries.
We have experience of adapting to comply
with EU legislation with which we have already had to
grapple.
We have experience in energy management -
particularly oil and gas and in privatisation which will
become increasingly important in the Enlargement countries.
"It is equally important that at this
time of change we continue to work to maintain and boost
Scotland's profile within Europe. For example the First
Minister will assume the Presidency of the group of Regions
with Legislative Power in November this year.
This group is made up of a number of the key
economic and political regions in the European Union.
"The Executive also continues to attach a great deal
of importance to its bilateral links with other European
devolved administrations. As a sign of this
commitment we have signed four co-operation agreements with
Catalonia,Tuscany, North-Rhine Westphalia andBavaria. We have also signed action plans with
TuscanyandCatalonia, and will do so with the German Länder.
"We have also worked with partner
regions in what we regard as the Premier League of Sub
Member State Governments.
We have done this through the Conference of
Peripheral Maritime Regions and Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities in Europe initiatives which form part
of the regional government response to the Future of Europe
debate.
"Scotland is also a member of the
Committee of the Regions and is fully involved in the work
which the group undertakes.
This includes Ministerial attendance at
Committees such as the Commission for Constitutional
Affairs and European Governance which the First Minister
attends.
"The Scottish Executive also
recognises the role that MEPs can play in promoting
Scotland at the heart of the EU's institutions.
We have established the European Elected
Members Information Liaison Exchange as a means of
Ministers and MSPs communicating and working with MEPs, and
other European elected members on the Committee of the
Regions and the Economic and Social Committee, to increase
Scotland's influence in Brussels and Strasbourg.
"It is vital that we work and
negotiate in the same way that other European countries do
- to ensure we are not left behind when the real decisions
are being made.
And I believe that we are well equipped to
do that - with our consensual style of politics and
approach to striking compromises.
"I believe that is the best way that
the UK and Scotland can continue to ensure that the