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Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2013

26 Feb 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

European Union Priorities

Adamson, Clare SNP Central Scotland Watch on SPTV

I am glad to be speaking in this debate, albeit only as a member of the European and External Relations Committee and not as a reporter on Europe or a member of one of the other committees.

The cabinet secretary mentioned the important relationship that Scotland has with Europe and how key it is to our country moving forward in science and research. The importance of that is evidenced by the visit today of the Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, to Europe to talk not just about her concerns about the EU structural funds settlement, but about the possibilities for Scotland in Europe following a “yes” vote. We are discussing the committee’s report, but we cannot talk about it in isolation from the referendum and the constitutional issues that face Scotland, or indeed from the wider UK referendum on an exit from Europe, because those are key factors when we are talking about priorities.

The cabinet secretary talked about the importance of science and research, which are also included in the European and External Relations Committee’s priorities for Europe, with regard to the horizon 2020 funding for research.

On her appointment as the first adviser on science issues to the President of the European Commission, Anne Glover said:

“It is an enormous pleasure for me to be the first Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission and to be in a position to talk about the excellence in science, engineering and technology that is generated across member states. Our big challenge in Europe is translating that knowledge into better environments, better health, more rewarding lifestyles and a sustainable future”.

She is also on record talking about the big global scientific challenges being in the areas of

“climate change, food security and water security.”

Earlier in the year, Humza Yousaf noted that Scotland has already taken a global lead on climate justice. He said:

“The Scottish Government’s ‘climate justice fund’ is the first of its kind in the world. In December, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, announced that Scotland would host an international conference on the subject. Much of the international development funding is already dedicated to projects relating to sustainability, food security and climate impact.”

Therefore, I welcome the fact that the themes of climate change, food security and water security run through the priorities that have been set by some of the committees. The Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee has highlighted energy technology and innovation, and future European energy policy. The Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee has highlighted safeguarding Europe’s water resources and the EU water blueprint. The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee has talked about the common agricultural policy, fisheries policies, the invasion of alien species, the safeguarding of Europe’s water resources, the EU strategy on adapting to climate change and the EU strategy on the energy framework. We cannot consider any of those issues in isolation, because everything that we do in Europe affects the wider world, and having those priorities reflected in the committee’s work is welcome.

I am also a member of the Education and Culture Committee. Although that committee has not made a submission to the report, the European and External Relations Committee has done a great deal of work on the one-plus-two language model that the Scottish Government is piloting, which should ensure that we have a healthy future in Europe.

15:02

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Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2013

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