Meeting of the Parliament 22 April 2015
I am particularly pleased to contribute to the debate, as a fairly new member of the European and External Relations Committee, and I congratulate all my colleagues past and present on the committee on releasing the report, which outlines how we and other committees have engaged on European issues over the past year and sets out the priorities for EU engagement in the coming year.
“Scotland’s Action Plan for EU Engagement”, which the Scottish Government published a few weeks ago, sets out that Scotland firmly believes that its best interests lie in remaining part of the European Union and maintaining its strong relationship with Europe. Scotland’s place in the EU has led the way to prosperity, sustainability and security throughout the country for more than four decades, and that will only increase as our relationship grows stronger.
The mutually beneficial relationship that Scotland and the European Union share is essential for both parties. Within that relationship, Scotland aims to influence key EU policies to meet our country’s best interests.
Through careful examination of the Europe 2020 strategy, the Scottish Government has decided which elements should be prioritised. Those are the points at which European engagement will be focused.
Although many committees throughout the Parliament have made a priority of considering EU engagement, including the scrutiny of EU policies, it has to be noted that, sadly, the levels of engagement in the topic have declined since last year. It is therefore essential to be reminded that maintaining Scotland’s strong relationship with the EU is essential. However, we must continue to hold the European Union accountable and evaluate its policies as they fit in with our needs.
The European and External Relations Committee aims to lead the Scottish Government in its engagement with the European Union and will continue to scrutinise the Scottish Government and its engagement with the EU. To carry out the scrutiny functions, early engagement is key, as is prioritising the monitoring of European legislation that is being drafted or implemented. I am sure that the committee will happily act as the hub for that scrutiny and engagement in the Scottish Parliament to guarantee that Scotland’s best interests are being met in Europe.
I am sure that my colleagues will agree that there is no doubt that Scotland is an essential part of the European Union and that the European Union is an essential part of Scotland. To maintain the best possible relationship, it is necessary that the Scottish Government continues its efforts to best engage with and monitor the policies that the EU sets forth. That will ensure that Scotland continues to thrive as much as possible as part of the European Union.