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News release

Minister for Europe addresses Holyrood meeting

22 September 2005

Douglas Alexander MP

The Minister for Europe, Douglas Alexander MP, has visited Holyrood to outline his thoughts on a range of European issues.

At the invitation of the Scottish Parliament’s European and External Relations Committee, Mr Alexander, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, addressed a meeting to discuss the UK’s Presidency of the European Union.

The hour-long session allowed members of the committee, including deputy convener Irene Oldfather, and members of the public the chance to quiz the minister on a range of European issues.

The minister started the session by declaring his pride to be addressing members of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, where he had campaigned politically as a supporter of devolution in George Square, Calton Hill and the Meadows before becoming an MP.

He said: “I am particularly proud to be addressing members of the Scottish Parliament and members of the audience in such august settings. I spent much of my youth campaigning for this place to be established.”

Following his opening remarks on the UK’s plans for its six-month presidency, Mr Alexander fielded questions on a range of subjects, including economic development goals, the rejection of the European Constitution by voters in France and the Netherlands, and the expansion of the EU to allow new member states.

Responding to a question from the audience about the relevance of the EU, he explained why he feels the EU has an important role to play.

He said: “There are issues that are beyond the reach of any one government; climate change, counter terrorism, people and drug trafficking.

“It is not a difficult step to say that if the European Union didn’t exist, we would have to invent something.”

He added that he felt the EU was beneficial in promoting “peace, democracy and prosperity” across Europe.

The meeting took place in Committee Room 2

The UK has assumed the Presidency of the European Union from July 1 to December 31 2005.

The Parliament’s European and External Relations Committee has previously invited Ambassadors from countries that have assumed the Presidency - most recently Luxembourg - to give a similar address.

Irene Oldfather, Deputy Convener of the European and External Relations Committee, said:

"The UK's presidency of the EU is something our committee is naturally taking a very close interest in.

"There are many important issues for the UK to address during its presidency and it was very useful to discuss these issues in person with the Europe Minister."