European Parliament looks at Holyrood's petitions experience
14 November 2005
Chairman Marcin Libicki MEP and David Lowe,
Head of the Petitions Committee Secretariat at the European Parliament |
Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions visited Holyrood on Tuesday 8 November to meet their counterparts on the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee.
The European delegation, led by chairman Marcin Libicki MEP, met Scottish representatives including Petitions Committee Convener Michael McMahon MSP.
The visitors also saw a demonstration of Holyrood's innovative e-petitioner system.
Scottish MEP David Martin told the meeting that as the Scottish Parliament had learned from the European experience when setting up its Petitions Committee, it was appropriate that the European Parliament was making a reciprocal visit.
David Martin MEP |
Among the issues discussed was the European Commission's Plan D proposals for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate and how the work of the Scottish Parliament's Petitions Committee may be of interest to this debate.
The group also spoke about the possibility of setting up a Europe-wide network of petitions committees to share best practice.
Holyrood's e-petitions service
allows people to lodge and support petitions online and is on the shortlist for a prestigious European award.
The eEurope Awards for eGovernment recognise best practice in internet projects among member states of the European Union, the candidate countries and member states of the European Fair Trade Association.
The Public Petitions Committee has been selected as a finalist in the Service Use category of the awards, which take place at a Ministerial eGovernment Conference in Manchester on 24 - 25 November.
The European Parliament is also looking to the Scottish Parliament for guidance on setting up a web television channel.
Dr Michael Shackleton, Project Manager in the Secretariat of the European Parliament, visited Holyrood earlier this month to learn about the webcasting service www.holyrood.tv.
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