Chamber
Plenary, 15 Jan 2004
15 Jan 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
European Commission<br />(Work Programme)
Yes. I am delighted to agree with a fellow member of the committee.
The review of the 2004 work plan for Scottish Development International shows that it has plans for public-sector support trade missions to, among others, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong and Portugal, but not to any of the 10 new member states such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary or Estonia. Perhaps plans are in the pipeline, but we need to hear more about them. If the European and External Relations Committee does not know what is being planned, how can small firms in any of our constituencies know what is happening? How can they benefit from the trade missions, tailored market intelligence and so on? It is a shame that we do not have that information, because, according to figures published by the SCDI, the markets of central and eastern Europe are worth nearly £0.5 billion to Scotland, including £63 million in exports of office machinery to the Czech Republic, £21 million in whisky exports to Turkey and £17 million in exports from the chemicals industry to Hungary.
I welcome the start of the Executive's efforts to encourage trade, inward investment and new immigration, but much more needs to be done and ministers need to be seen to lead. The Executive should rest assured that the committee will be the first to congratulate ministers on their efforts and will support them in any way that it can.
I ask the minister to say something about the location of European agencies. I know that we will all be disappointed that Glasgow lost out in relation to the location of the European Maritime Safety Agency. The European Agency for Network and Information Security went to Greece and the European Chemicals Agency went to Helsinki. New agencies might be in the pipeline, such as agencies for defence and for minority languages. I urge the minister to tell us what is happening to secure the other agencies and perhaps to review why we were unsuccessful in securing the agencies that I mentioned, particularly the European Maritime Safety Agency.
I turn to the Irish presidency of the EU. I know that we all want to wish our friends and neighbours the Irish the best of luck over the next months of their tenure of the presidency. Naturally, there is much cross-over between their priorities and the Commission's priorities. We will all want to welcome today a number of initiatives. The Irish will host a conference in the spring in Dublin on conflict resolution, which will involve discussions on the role of civic society and non-governmental organisations. I am sure that we all welcome that, particularly the Presiding Officer, who I know has a particular interest in it. In April, there will be an EU-Africa troika meeting in Dublin to discuss strategies to tackle AIDS and poverty. The Irish will also host a major conference on HIV and AIDS in Europe and central Asia and a meeting with ministers from the Mediterranean countries.
I am sure that we all welcome the international slant that the Irish are putting on their six-month tenure of the EU presidency and wish them luck for all those agendas. Perhaps the minister will tell us whether Scotland will be involved in any of the initiatives or events to ensure that we make a contribution.
I return to the Commission's work programme. I urge members and committees to investigate all forthcoming legislation from Brussels to ensure that Scotland's interests are taken into account and that Parliament acts early so that we can influence the legislation that affects Scotland. I hope that ministers will agree to publish an analysis of this year's work programme and its implications for Scotland as that would help the Parliament and its committees. The committees could then turn to the good offices of the European Commission and European Parliament offices in Edinburgh and make contact with the EU to find out more and to ensure that Scotland's voice is heard and that the Executive is scrutinised properly. The Scottish Parliament is establishing an office in Brussels on a pilot basis, which I hope will become a permanent feature. It will provide assistance to MSPs and committees to ensure that we have good intelligence and information from Brussels.
I move,
That the Parliament notes the publication of the European Commission's work programme for 2004, which is dominated by the enlargement of the European Union, and agrees that it contains a number of legislative and non-legislative plans of importance to Scotland.
The review of the 2004 work plan for Scottish Development International shows that it has plans for public-sector support trade missions to, among others, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong and Portugal, but not to any of the 10 new member states such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary or Estonia. Perhaps plans are in the pipeline, but we need to hear more about them. If the European and External Relations Committee does not know what is being planned, how can small firms in any of our constituencies know what is happening? How can they benefit from the trade missions, tailored market intelligence and so on? It is a shame that we do not have that information, because, according to figures published by the SCDI, the markets of central and eastern Europe are worth nearly £0.5 billion to Scotland, including £63 million in exports of office machinery to the Czech Republic, £21 million in whisky exports to Turkey and £17 million in exports from the chemicals industry to Hungary.
I welcome the start of the Executive's efforts to encourage trade, inward investment and new immigration, but much more needs to be done and ministers need to be seen to lead. The Executive should rest assured that the committee will be the first to congratulate ministers on their efforts and will support them in any way that it can.
I ask the minister to say something about the location of European agencies. I know that we will all be disappointed that Glasgow lost out in relation to the location of the European Maritime Safety Agency. The European Agency for Network and Information Security went to Greece and the European Chemicals Agency went to Helsinki. New agencies might be in the pipeline, such as agencies for defence and for minority languages. I urge the minister to tell us what is happening to secure the other agencies and perhaps to review why we were unsuccessful in securing the agencies that I mentioned, particularly the European Maritime Safety Agency.
I turn to the Irish presidency of the EU. I know that we all want to wish our friends and neighbours the Irish the best of luck over the next months of their tenure of the presidency. Naturally, there is much cross-over between their priorities and the Commission's priorities. We will all want to welcome today a number of initiatives. The Irish will host a conference in the spring in Dublin on conflict resolution, which will involve discussions on the role of civic society and non-governmental organisations. I am sure that we all welcome that, particularly the Presiding Officer, who I know has a particular interest in it. In April, there will be an EU-Africa troika meeting in Dublin to discuss strategies to tackle AIDS and poverty. The Irish will also host a major conference on HIV and AIDS in Europe and central Asia and a meeting with ministers from the Mediterranean countries.
I am sure that we all welcome the international slant that the Irish are putting on their six-month tenure of the EU presidency and wish them luck for all those agendas. Perhaps the minister will tell us whether Scotland will be involved in any of the initiatives or events to ensure that we make a contribution.
I return to the Commission's work programme. I urge members and committees to investigate all forthcoming legislation from Brussels to ensure that Scotland's interests are taken into account and that Parliament acts early so that we can influence the legislation that affects Scotland. I hope that ministers will agree to publish an analysis of this year's work programme and its implications for Scotland as that would help the Parliament and its committees. The committees could then turn to the good offices of the European Commission and European Parliament offices in Edinburgh and make contact with the EU to find out more and to ensure that Scotland's voice is heard and that the Executive is scrutinised properly. The Scottish Parliament is establishing an office in Brussels on a pilot basis, which I hope will become a permanent feature. It will provide assistance to MSPs and committees to ensure that we have good intelligence and information from Brussels.
I move,
That the Parliament notes the publication of the European Commission's work programme for 2004, which is dominated by the enlargement of the European Union, and agrees that it contains a number of legislative and non-legislative plans of importance to Scotland.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S2M-771, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on behalf of the European and External Relations Com...
Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
As convener of the Scottish Parliament's European and External Relations Committee, it is a pleasure for me to open the debate on the European Commission's w...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD):
LD
Does Mr Lochhead agree that although the SCDI is planning trade missions to seven of the 10 new member states within the next year, it is equally important t...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
Yes. I am delighted to agree with a fellow member of the committee.The review of the 2004 work plan for Scottish Development International shows that it has ...
Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
This is an important debate in what will be a momentous year for the European Union. As Richard Lochhead said, it is the year of enlargement, European Parlia...
Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab):
Lab
Does the member accept that a crucial part of the work of the European and External Relations Committee is to do just that? The previous European Committee i...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
That is exactly what I was coming on to say. In this session of Parliament we have made important strides forward. It is good to see ministers and officials ...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Richard Lochhead on the way in which he led for the European and External Relations Committee. I agree with most of what he said.We welcome th...
The Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services (Tavish Scott):
LD
I was rather looking forward to Mr Gallie continuing that frame of analysis.I thank Richard Lochhead and the European and External Relations Committee for in...
Phil Gallie:
Con
I thank the minister for his comments. I recognise that the constitution would not be implemented until 2009, but its implications are so vast that it will t...
Tavish Scott:
LD
Those observations do not hang together with the reality of the Commission's work plan. As Mr Gallie said, the constitution might be considered to be too amb...
Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
In the context of communication between the Scottish Parliament and the European Parliament, has the minister given any consideration to the establishment of...
Tavish Scott:
LD
I hope that Mrs Ewing will accept that that is rather more a matter for Parliament than for me. I visited the Scottish Parliament office the last time I was ...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
Enlargement of the EU has been a big issue in the debate and will continue to be so. Will the minister give examples of any analyses by his department of the...
Tavish Scott:
LD
Such analysis is going on, rightly, across all departments of the Executive, not just in finance and public services. Enterprise plays a particularly importa...
Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab):
Lab
The motion asks Parliament to note the European Commission's work programme in a year of massive transition, in which a new European Parliament will be elect...
Mrs Ewing:
SNP
Is Mr Home Robertson now saying that he believes that Ted Heath was right to say that Scottish fishermen were expendable?
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
No. I think that he was right to understand that fisheries need to be managed internationally. Margaret Thatcher was very seldom right, but she was right to ...
Phil Gallie:
Con
Is Mr Home Robertson concerned that growth in the euro zone is less than growth in Europe as a whole?
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
That is one of the current problems. It would be right for Britain to be in the euro zone, but the zone must stabilise and begin to grow. However, it is wort...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD):
LD
It has been said with considerable understatement that 2004 will be a far from normal year for the EU. Indeed, phrases such as "a dramatic new phase in the E...
Mike Watson (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab):
Lab
It is indeed good to see Keith Raffan back in the chamber—I am enjoying his speech. However, I am interested in his comment about the need to reunify Cyprus,...
Mr Raffan:
LD
Obviously, the Commission's opinion on opening accession negotiations with Turkey continues to relate in some ways to the current pressure that the Turkish G...
Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green):
Green
I welcome this opportunity to discuss the European Commission's planned work programme. Whatever concerns we might have about the unelected and undemocratic ...
Phil Gallie:
Con
If all those toxic substances are getting into our blood, why on earth are we all living so much longer these days?
Mark Ballard:
Green
There is major public health concern about the impact on us of toxic chemicals in food, consumer and other products. For example, they might be involved in t...
Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab):
Lab
I am glad that, in this debate and in many others, the Scottish Parliament has, by and large, shown committed and enthusiastic support for engagement with th...
Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
Like others who have spoken in the debate, I welcome the opportunity to discuss the European Commission's work programme for 2004. I hope that we can do this...
Phil Gallie:
Con
In her earlier comments, the member referred to the mass of information and legislation that is generated in Europe. She has just referred to that again, as ...
Mrs Ewing:
SNP
People would be equally gobsmacked by the number of acronyms that we use when we discuss European legislation. That is part of the problem that we have to ov...