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Scotland's plans for Europe
01/10/2007
The Scottish Government's priorities and longer term strategic approach in European Union Affairs will be set out to the European Commission (EC) at a conference in Edinburgh today.
On the day before External Affairs Minister Linda Fabiani attends the Joint Ministerial Committee on Europe she said:
"I welcome this opportunity to talk to the EC and the information networks that operate across the UK about the Scottish Government's priorities in Europe.
"Scotland has specific interests and as such we have identified 21 Current EU Priorities that Scottish efforts will be focused on, such as the EU Reform Treaty and the EU fisheries negotiations.
"We will work closely with the UK Government as an equal, vocal and constructive partner to ensure that Scottish interests are very much reflected in the UK negotiating line so that finalised legislation emerging from Brussels satisfies the relevant Scottish stakeholders.
"Tomorrow I will attend the Joint Ministerial Committee on Europe to make Scotland's current priorities very clear and also talk about this Government's longer term approach highlighting political issues that we will proactively pursue within the EU framework.
"We have already had constructive interaction with the Commission since coming to office in May and we will continue to build on this. I look forward to raising Scotland's voice in Europe."
Ms Fabiani was speaking at a two day seminar for members of The EC's information networks from across the UK.