The Scottish Government

Mr John Swinney

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney in Brussels

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, visited Brussels on Tuesday 13 October and held meetings with Environment Commissioner Dimas on Climate Change; Regional Policy Commissioner Samecki; Scottish MEPs; the Deputy Ambassador for the UK Permanent Representation to the EU; and Brussels based officials. Mr Swinney took the opportunity to profile the work that Scotland was doing on Climate Change, probe on Commission thinking on the Copenhagen summit and touch on Scottish CCS work, particularly at Longannet with Commissioner Dimas and how Scotland was using EU Structural Funds to help towards economic recovery. Commissioner Samecki complemented the Minister and Scotland for being the first part of the EU to take advantage of 'front loading' of EU funds. Mr Swinney also had useful discussion on the Commission's views on Government assistance to the Royal Bank of Scotland and the merger of Lloyds and HBOS as well as proposed legislation on regulation of the financial services industry.

Mr Richard Lochhead

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead in Brussels

On Monday 28 September Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead called on Maritime Commissioner Joe Borg to discuss the economic difficulties being faced by Scottish Fishermen. Mr Lochhead's visit also took in a call on the new Chair of the European Parliament's Fisheries Committee, Carmen Fraga Estevez and a discussion with a number of Scottish MEPs.

Mr Alex Neil

Minister for Housing and Communities, Alex Neil in Brussels

On Monday 28 September Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities hosted a seminar about the Scottish Government's strategic approach to LGBT equality, which has been developed in partnership with the three national LGBT organisations in Scotland. The Minister was accompanied by representatives from the Equality Network, Stonewall Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland and the Scottish Transgender Alliance who shared the platform and delivered short presentations demonstrating their role in delivering our shared objectives. The event participants included representatives from the governments of Netherlands, Flanders, Republic of Ireland and the UK, as well as community activists from Belgium, Italy and Germany and a number of respected academics from Belgian and Dutch Universities. The European Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (Scotland) were also represented.

Mr Neil also used his visit to meet with representatives of the European Investment Bank (EIB) to discuss opportunities for funding from the EIB, including the expected allocation of £50 million to Housing Associations in Scotland, which will be distributed through The Housing Finance Corporation. A useful discussion took place and it is hoped that further engagement will take place across a number of policy areas to allow a greater understanding of how to access EIB funds.

Mr Michael Russell

Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, Michael Russell, in Brussels for National Conversation Event

On Tuesday September 8th, Michael Russell, Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, hosted an event on the EU and international aspects of the National Conversation. In the afternoon he met Ms Odile Quintin, the Commission's Director-General for Education and Culture and Scottish MEPs in the European Parliament.

Richard Lochhead

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment

Roseanna Cunningham

Minister for Environment

Rural Affairs Secretary and Environment Minister in Brussels for Scottish reception at the European Seafood Exposition

Exhibitors from all over the world were in Brussels for the week long European Seafood Exposition. On Tuesday 28th April the Scottish Government, in partnership with Seafood Scotland, Scotland Food & Drink and SDI, hosted an evening reception and Ceilidh where high quality Scottish food and drink were showcased. Richard Lochhead and and Minister for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, co-hosted the event which had over 400 guests attend.

The Cabinet Secretary also announced a seafood promotion and consumption campaign and met with the Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg. As part of Roseanna Cunningham's visit to Brussels she also met with Scottish MEPS and Andy Lebrecht, Deputy Permanent Representative of UKRep.

Keith Brown

Minister for Schools and Skills

Minister for Schools and Skills meets with Education Commissioner and attends Ministerial Conference on Bologna Process

Keith Brown, Minister for Schools and Skills, met with Commissioner for Education and Culture Jan Figel in Brussels on 27 April before travelling to Leuven the next day to take part in a Ministerial Conference on the future of the Bologna Process.

Richard Lochhead

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment in Brussels, meets with Commissioner for Health

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. Mr Lochhead also visited Flanders on 24 March to look at waste management practices. He met the Flemish Environment Minister Hilde Crevitz during the visit and also called on Flemish First Minister Kris Peeters.

Michael Russell

Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution

Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution in Brussels

Michael Russell, newly appointed Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, was in Brussels on Monday 2 March for a busy programme of events. These included meetings with Commissioner Figel (Education, Training, Culture and Youth), the UK Permanent Representative and officials from the Swedish Permanent Representation (in advance of the Swedish Presidency of the EU from 1st July 2009). The Minister was also the guest speaker at the Scottish Agricultural College reception held in the Scotland House conference centre. The Minister then went to meet with the Scottish MEPs.

Jim Mather

Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism

Minister for Energy in Brussels for Sustainable Energy Week

On Monday Mr Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, chaired a series of policy seminars that were hosted by the Scottish Government in Scotland House, Brussels. The seminars covered 3 specific areas: deploying marine renewable energy EU; carbon capture and storage; and harmonising renewable energy projects with environmental obligations. All key sectors were represented, covering Government, industry, the European Commission and Parliament, NGOs and academia - all of whom presented their views and contributed to the quality of the debate. Some key outcomes for follow-up emerged and this important work will be developed further in the months ahead. The Scottish Parliament's Energy Committee, in Brussels on a fact finding visit, attended some of the seminars.

Michael Russell

Minister for Environment

Minister for Environment for meetings with European Parliament

Mr Michael Russell, Minister for Environment, visited Brussels on Wednesday. He attended the European Parliament's Environment Committee where he was introduced to the members and met the Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Environment, Martin Bursík, who was making an address to the Committee.

Mr Russell also met with the Scottish MEPs as well as meeting with Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of Scottish and Southern Energy.

The Minister's main evening engagement was to deliver the 'Toast to the Immortal Memory' at the MEPs Burns Supper, which was attended by a number of other distinguished guests, including the Permanent Secretary, Sir John Elvidge