Transport and the Environment Committee, 16 Feb 2000

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 16, 2000

Official Report 150KB pdf

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EU Environmental Action Programme

Item 4 on our agenda concerns the European Union's sixth environmental action programme. Members have received a discussion paper on the matter and are aware of the reporter's proposed terms of reference. The European Committee plans to hold an inquiry into the sixth environmental programme; its starting point will be the recently published consultation document on the proposed development of the programme.

According to information that we have received, the European Committee's inquiry should last for about six months. We have been invited to have an input into the European Committee's inquiry, so we need to consider, first, whether we wish to appoint a reporter to liaise with the European Committee, and secondly, who that reporter will be. I have received a note of interest from Robin Harper, who can speak for himself. I have not received any other notifications, but the matter is open to the committee for discussion.

At our previous meeting, I intimated that I would have been very happy to liaise with the Rural Affairs Committee on national parks, but that was before I got sight of this proposal. Having spent 10 years developing European policy through the European Federation of Green Parties, I have a great deal of experience in European affairs, which are of considerable interest to me. I would, therefore, be very keen to serve as a reporter for the environmental action programme inquiry. In light of other recent events and additions to my work load, I think that I should put myself forward for that inquiry only.

I saw a lot of members nodding, so there seems to be some consensus on that. Robin told me this morning that he has been elected the rector of Edinburgh University, and we all congratulate him on that. He is a busy man, and getting busier. If the committee agrees, we will appoint Robin Harper as our reporter for the environmental action programme inquiry. I see no sign of dissent; I thank members for their co-operation.

There are two further items on our agenda—to consider the draft committee report on telecommunications and to consider our future work programme. At a previous committee meeting, we agreed to take those items in private. I thank the public and press for attending; I appreciate your coming along today.

Meeting continued in private until 12:35.