2nd Report, 2008 (Session 3)

Annual Report 2007-08

CONTENTS

Remit:

The remit of the European and External Relations Committee is to consider and report on-

(a) proposals for European Communities legislation;

(b) the implementation of European Communities legislation;

(c) any European Communities or European Union issue;

(d) the development and implementation of the Scottish Administration's links with countries and territories outside Scotland, the European Communities (and their institutions) and other international organisations; and

(e) co-ordination of the international activities of the Scottish Administration.

(Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament, Rule 6.8)

Membership:
Jackie Baillie (Convener from 19 June 2007 until 20 September 2007, Member from 13 June 2007 until 20 September 2007)
Ted Brocklebank
Malcolm Chisholm (Convener from 2 October 2007 to present, Member from 20 September 2007 to present)
Patricia Ferguson (from 1 May 08)
Alasdair Morgan
Alex Neil (Deputy Convener)
Irene Oldfather
John Park (until 1 May 08)
Gil Paterson
Iain Smith

Committee Clerking Team:

Clerk to the Committee
Jim Johnston

Assistant Clerks
Emma Berry (until 28 March 2008)
Lewis McNaughton (from 10 June 2007 to 10 September 2007)
Lucy Scharbert (from 3 September 2007)
Ian Cox (from 25 March 2008)

Committee Assistant
Kathleen Wallace

Annual Report 2007-08

The Committee reports to the Parliament as follows—

Introduction

1. The Committee met for the first time in the third parliamentary session on 19 June 2007 and agreed to hold an away day in August 2007 in order to develop a strategic approach to its work programme. An initial work programme was subsequently agreed formally at the Committee’s meeting on 4 September 2008.

2. The Committee has sought to achieve a balance in its workload across its wide-ranging remit, ensuring the accountability of the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture across her portfolio responsibilities on the EU and the Scottish Government’s international relations policies. The Committee also agreed to build upon the work of its predecessor committee, especially in relation to its approach to the scrutiny of the Scottish Government on EU issues, and to develop the role of the European Officer in supporting the Committee’s work in this area.

Inquiries and reports

3. The Committee has carried out two major inquiries over the past year.

4. First, the Committee agreed to conduct an inquiry into the transposition of EU directives, which aimed to build on the work of the predecessor committee’s reporter led inquiry on the scrutiny of European legislation. As part of this inquiry, committee reporters visited Germany, Belgium and Spain to look at the role of regional governments and regional parliaments in those countries on EU issues. The report was published on 2 May 2008.

5. Second, the Committee agreed to conduct an inquiry on international development issues and agreed its remit for the inquiry following a roundtable evidence session at its meeting on 2 October 2007. The Committee heard from a wide range of witnesses, including schoolteachers from Malawi, Jack McConnell MSP, Malcolm Bruce MP and representatives of the academic, business, philanthropic, NGO and voluntary sectors. As part of the inquiry the Committee agreed to host a conference for S5 and S6 school pupils on Europe Day on 9 May 2008, with organisational support from the European Parliament, the European Commission and the British Council Scotland. It was recognised that the conference would provide an opportunity for young people to explore international development issues with MSPs, MEPs and NGOs. The Committee report is due to be published towards the end of June.

6. The Committee also agreed to carry out a short inquiry on the Services Directive and to take oral evidence prior to the summer recess. The Committee also heard from the Deputy First Minister on the Scottish Government’s National Conversation and took evidence on the Scottish Government’s International framework.

7. As part of its regular scrutiny of EU issues, the Committee receives a six monthly update on the Scottish Government’s EU priorities from the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture.

Bills

8. Whilst the Committee does not consider Executive Bills, it tracks EC/EU legislation and policy on issues which have a direct impact on Scotland. These are brought to the attention of the subject committees as part of the mainstreaming of EU issues in the Parliament. In particular, the Committee agreed to conduct an annual consultation on the European Commission’s legislative and work Programme (LWP) with a view to prioritising those legislative proposals which potentially have a significant impact on Scotland.

9. At its meeting on 19 February 2008, the Committee agreed four key policy themes which arose from the consultation: Energy and Climate Change; Maritime Issues (including Fisheries); Structural/Reform issues; and Economic and Social issues. These issues are monitored by the European Officer who provides regular updates on developments in these areas through the publication of the Brussels Bulletin which is considered by the Committee on a fortnightly basis.

Subordinate Legislation

10. The Committee does not consider the Scottish Government’s secondary legislation in the same way as subject committees. However, the Committee does scrutinise the Scottish Government’s transposition and implementation of EU legislation in devolved areas through a regular report provided by the Scottish Government. The Committee has also made a number of recommendations in relation to the parliamentary scrutiny of the transposition and implementation of EU legislation.

Petitions

11. The Committee has not considered any petitions in the past year.

Networks and Visitors

12. The Committee continues to work closely with a number of key external partners, including Scottish MEPs, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the British Council and other regional parliaments within the EU. The Committee also works closely with its colleagues at Westminster and the other devolved institutions through the European Chairs – UK forum.

13. The Committee has met a range of visitors to the Parliament and has hosted public meetings with the Portuguese Ambassador, His Excellency Antonio Nunes de Carvalho Santana Carlos, and with His Excellency Iztok Mirošič, Slovenian Ambassador to the UK, who delivered addresses on the priorities of their respective countries’ presidencies of the EU.

Equalities

14. The Committee supports the mainstreaming of equalities issues across the parliamentary committees. For example, the Committee consulted the Equal Opportunities Committee as part of its consideration of the European Commission’s LWP for 2008 and took evidence from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into the transposition of EU directives. Most recently, the Committee wrote to the EHRC with regard to its consideration of the implications of the new UK points based immigration system on the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme.

Meetings

15. During the parliamentary year (from 9 May 2007 – 8 May 2008), the Committee met 18 times and four meetings were partly in private. All five items taken in private were for consideration of inquiry remit papers, approach papers or draft reports.

16. All meetings of the Committee were held in Edinburgh.