The committee wants to hear from as many people as possible about how being part of the EU impacts upon their life, which issues affect them and how the Scottish Parliament can help deal with these matters more effectively.

Announcing the inquiry, Committee Convener Hugh Henry said:

"The whole purpose of this exercise is to listen to a broad cross-section of Scottish society, so that we can develop a programme of priority work for the Committee, for the next six to twelve months.

"Whether you represent a private business, a public sector organanisation or are simply an interested member of the public, we want to hear your answers to the following questions:

• What does the European Union mean to you?

• Which issues do you consider most important to your business or daily life?

• How well do you think these issues are currently dealt with in Scotland - how might they be improved?

• What would you like to see the Scottish Parliament and the European Committee in particular do to improve how these priority issues are dealt with?

"This is a great opportunity to have your say on which European-led issues we should be focusing. There is, of course, a vast range of EU subjects which respondents will want to highlight.

"But without trying to limit people’s ideas, it doesn’t just have to be about regional development funding. We can take an even wider perspective and look at any of the following:

• job creation,
• economic and monetary union,
• transport,
• the environment,
• rural affairs,
• sport,
• human rights,
• international development,
• education and training,
• equal opportunities and social exclusion,
• public health,
• consumer protection.

"In all of these fields, the European Union has an important role to play in Scotland. By throwing the inquiry open to everyone we can ensure that the work of our committee is relevant to the everyday lives of the people of Scotland.

"With today’s opening of Scotland House, it is vital that the work of the European Committee and its relations with the European institutions through the Scottish Executive’s representation in Brussels, is rooted in the views of the Scottish people."

Please send your views and priorities for Scottish Parliament and the European Committee to:

Hugh Henry MSP
c/o Stephen Imrie
Clerk to the European Committee
Room 3.11, Committee Chambers
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

BACKGROUND NOTES

Replies by email are most welcomed.

The committee’s membership is as follows:

Dennis Canavan, Bruce Crawford, Winnie Ewing, Hugh Henry (convener), Sylvia Jackson, Cathy Jamieson, Margo MacDonald, Maureen Macmillan, David Mundell, Irene Oldfather, Tavish Scott, Ben Wallace and Allan Wilson.