| October | 21 | Mr Stewart Stevenson Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change | Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson in Luxembourg Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change attended the Environment Council on 21 October in Luxembourg. The Council adopted Conclusions on an EU position ahead of the crucial UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Key features of the agreement include: - Long term emission reduction targets for the EU of 80-90 percent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, within the framework of international agreements;
- Limitations on emissions from international aviation and shipping by 10% and 20% respectively (relative to 2005 emissions); and
- Clarification of EU views on surplus emission allowances, which can affect EU environmental ambitions.
The Conclusions will be now be passed to the meeting of the European Council of Ministers on 29-30 October. In addition to climate change, the Environment Ministers adopted Council Conclusions on an Eco Efficient Economy, recognising the importance of mainstreaming the low carbon growth strategies into the post-2010 EU Lisbon Strategy. Council Conclusions on an EU Strategy on Ship Dismantling were also adopted. The Council held a policy debate on the proposed revision of two directives that concern waste from electrical and electronic equipment. |
| October | 19-20 | Mr Richard Lochhead Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment | Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead in Luxembourg The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg on 19-20 October. During this meeting, the Council reached an agreement on the introduction of a new EU control system for the Common Fisheries Policy, fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea for 2010 and established a common organisation of agricultural markets as regards the marketing standards for poultry meat. The Council also discussed fisheries negotiations with Norway and the situation in the milk market, during which the Commission announced a proposal for a 280 million Euro milk fund. |
| July | 13 | Mr Richard Lochhead Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment | Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead in Brussels The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment attended the Agriculture Council on Monday July 13th. Among other things, the Council discussed the priorities of the Swedish Presidency, the dairy sector, agricultural research, the role of agriculture in adapting to climate change and bee health. |
| June | 4/5 | Mr Kenny MacAskill Cabinet Secretary for Justice | Cabinet Secretary for Justice attends June Justice and Home Affairs Council Kenny MacAskill, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, attended as part of the UK delegation. Among other things, the Council considered the EU's response to the proposed closure of Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre; and various legislative proposals including in relation to asylum matters, the negotiation of bilateral agreements with third countries on areas of civil justice cooperation, the introduction of criminal sanctions for ship source pollution and combating human trafficking. The Council also discussed the latest evaluation report concerning the European Arrest Warrant, will consider conclusions on the setting up of a Common Frame of Reference for European contract law and, finally, will take stock of the implementation of the e justice project and a project to enhance judicial training on European law. |
| May | 25 | Mr Richard Lochhead Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment | Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment attends Agriculture and Fisheries Council Cabinet Secretary, Richard Lochhead was in Brussels for an EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council at which there was comprehensive discussion of the Commission's Green Paper on Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. |
| May | 12 | Mr Michael Russell Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution | Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution at Education, Youth and Culture Council The Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, Michael Russell, led the UK delegation at the Culture element of the EYC where culture and audiovisual items were considered on Tuesday afternoon. |
| May | 11 | Ms Fiona Hyslop Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong learning | Cabinet Secretary for Education attends Education, Youth and Culture Council Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop was in Brussels to attend the Education section of the Eudcation, Youth and Culture Cuoncil. Ms Hyslop pledged Scotland's support for a new 10-year framework for European co-operation in education and training from 2010 until 2020. |
| April | 30 | Ms Shona Robison Minster for Public Health and Sport | Health Minister attends Extraordinary Health Council on Influenza A(H1N1) Minister for Public Health and Sport, Shona Robison, attended an extraordinary meeting of the EU Health Council in Luxembourg convened to discuss the EU's collective response to the outbreak of Influenza A(H1N1) (Swine Flu). |
| April | 23/24 | Mr Richard Lochhead Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment | Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment attends Agriculture and Fisheries Council Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, attended April's Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg. |
| April | 6 | Mr Fergus Ewing Minister for Community Safety | Community Safety Minister at Justice and Home Affairs Council Fergus Ewing, Minister for Community Safety, was in Brussels to attend the Justice and Home Affairs Council as part of the UK delegation. |
| March | 23 | Mr Richard Lochhead Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment | Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment attends Agriculture Council Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead attended Agriculture Council on 23 March and also met European Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou to express concerns about the implications of electronic tagging on the Scottish Sheep industry. |
| February | 26 - 27 | Mr Frank Mulholland Solicitor General for Scotland | Solicitor General at Justice and Home Affairs Council The Solicitor General for Scotland, Frank Mulholland QC attended February's JHA Council as part of the UK delegation. In relation to justice matters, among other things, the Council held an orientation debate on the latest state of play in relation to negotiations for a Framework Decision to resolve conflicts of jurisdiction in criminal cases; discussed the latest state of play on the proposal for a Directive to combat ship source pollution through the use of criminal sanctions; considered the negotiating mandate for a mutual legal assistance agreement with Japan and also the latest state of play for implementation of a European e-justice action plan. In relation to home affairs matters, the Council discussed measures to combat illegal immigration in the Mediterranean, the situation of Iraqi refugees and, in light of President Obama's recent announcement that the Guantanamo detention facility should be closed in due course, had a general discussion on what future supporting measures the EU can take in respect of that. They also considered the recent Report from the Commission on the exercise of rights of free movement by EU citizens and their families and draft Council conclusions on the implementation of the 2nd generation Schengen Information System. |