Committee
European and External Relations Committee, 17 Jan 2006
17 Jan 2006 · S2 · European and External Relations Committee
Item of business
Convener's Report
According to the information that Nick Hawthorne has, that is not the case, but we will double check. We seem to have conflicting information.The second item in my report relates to the Committee of the Regions subsidiarity test project, in which our colleagues in the National Assembly for Wales are taking part. Irene Oldfather kindly agreed to provide information on the project to us and to report back today.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
SNP
The last agenda item is the convener's report, which is paper EU/S2/06/1/5. Margaret Ewing referred to item 1 on the report, which is the proposed committee ...
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
She will not be there.
Mrs Ewing:
SNP
Plenty of folk ken about fish—especially in Brussels. You get the best sole in the world there.
The Convener:
SNP
There is an outline programme, but obviously it is not set in stone. Interruption. Can I have a bit of peace? I suggest that we should have most of our meeti...
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
That sounds good for committee members, but if you want to meet some of the directors general in the Commission, I have to say that I do not think that they ...
The Convener:
SNP
We have to be pragmatic.
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
In all fairness, we would have to build in a bit of flexibility.On suggestions for meetings, it occurs to me that structural funds will be very important. Gr...
The Convener:
SNP
We must try to get the most out of the fairly short time that we will be in Brussels. There is no reason why different people cannot go to different events. ...
Phil Gallie:
Con
I intend to go—I thought that I had given notification of that.I spoke earlier about energy and the Lisbon agenda. I would like to have an up-to-date briefin...
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
I thought that I had replied—the trip is certainly in my diary. I am also interested in energy, biofuels and stuff like that.
The Convener:
SNP
Are there any other takers?
Mr Wallace:
LD
My attendance would mean that I would have to leave home at 1 o'clock on Sunday.
The Convener:
SNP
That will be nice.
Mrs Ewing:
SNP
You will miss Sunday lunch.
The Convener:
SNP
Is that the only way that you can get down here to get the flight?
Mr Wallace:
LD
If it comes to that, I will do it.
The Convener:
SNP
Could you take a later flight?
Mr Wallace:
LD
There is no point in missing out on things.
The Convener:
SNP
Perhaps there is a flight that would get you to Brussels at teatime on Monday.
Nick Hawthorne (Clerk):
We gather that the Glasgow flight is to be withdrawn on about 6 March, so unfortunately Edinburgh is the only option. It will have to be a 7 o'clock flight f...
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
I do not know whether the clerks are aware that the visit may be during a European Parliament plenary week in Strasbourg. Plenary sessions are sometimes—alth...
The Convener:
SNP
According to the information that Nick Hawthorne has, that is not the case, but we will double check. We seem to have conflicting information.The second item...
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
I have a paper with the appropriate information that I can circulate to members.The Committee of the Regions has undertaken a two-month pilot project on subs...
Phil Gallie:
Con
I am a member of the CLRAE—the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
Oh, you are on the CLRAE.
The Convener:
SNP
The CALRE is for Presiding Officers or Speakers of Parliaments.
Irene Oldfather:
Lab
Right.The CALRE nominated the Welsh Assembly to participate in the project, which it has done. The exercise has been completed based on the Treaty of Amsterd...
The Convener:
SNP
I must leave the meeting for a few minutes. Irene Oldfather will convene the meeting until I return.
The Deputy Convener (Irene Oldfather):
Lab
Thank you, convener.I have the Welsh Assembly's response to the Committee of the Regions, which I can circulate to members.It has been suggested that all the...
The Deputy Convener:
Lab
Good. That takes us to the next item in the convener's report.