The Scottish Government

Scottish Writers' Series: Christopher Brookmyre at Scotland House

Scottish Writers' Series: Kevin MacNeil at Scotland House

Scottish Writers' Series: Denise Mina at Scotland House

Scottish Writers' Series: Quintin Jardine at Scotland House

Launch of Scottish Writers' Series 2007-08

On 14th November we launch our Scottish Writers' Series 2007-8. Over the next six months we will bring nine diverse and highly acclaimed Scottish writers, poets and playwrights to Scotland House to give lunchtime presentations on their work. This is your chance to meet the authors, pose questions and ask them to sign copies of your favourite books. All of these events are free, but places are limited.

• Full publicity brochure

Committee of the Regions OPEN DAYS 2007

The Scottish Government EU office and Pomorskie Region of Poland co-hosted a Scottish-Pomorskie breakfast on 10 October as part of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) OPEN DAYS 2007. The keynote speaker was Gerhard Stahl, Secretary General of CoR. The event was well attended and representatives of national and regional governments from across the EU had the opportunity to network and share ideas whilst sampling specialities from Scotland and Pomorskie including porridge, scones with bramble jam, kashubian meats and honey and scrambled eggs with eel.

Scotland House also hosted a seminar on 'The Future of Maritime Regions' organised by the Celtic Connections conglomerate, which included Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Irish Regions, South West UK, Brittany, Asturias and Norte.

The OPEN DAYS provided the launch-pad for a programme of cultural events organised by members of the Celtic Connections conglomerate from October 2007-May 2008. The events, ranging from traditional music concerts to poetry readings and photographic/art exhibitions, are aimed at celebrating the diversity of cultural activity in the participating nations and regions.

• Celtic Connections

First Minister and Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture in Brussels

The First Minister, Alex Salmond, and Linda Fabiani, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, arrived in Brussels on 11 July and that evening hosted a reception in Scotland House for Scots in Brussels and key people working in the EU institutions, permanent representations and business community.

The next day the First Minister held meetings with four senior European Commissioners with resposibilities for Fisheries, Trade, Budget and the Internal Market, laying the groundwork for strengthening Scotland's role in Europe.

The First Minister also attended the commemoration service to mark the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele. Afterwards he laid a wreath at the Menin Gate, Ypres. He said: "No family in Scotland was untouched and no community unaffected by the loss of so many young soldiers who died in 1917. The carnage of Passchendaele is a poignant reminder of why the European institutions were established, to build lasting peace and prosperity in our continent."

The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture attended a dinner that evening hosted for her by Geert Bourgeois, Flemish Minister for Administrative Affairs, Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism.