European Committee, 30 Oct 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 30, 2001

Official Report 257KB pdf

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Convener's Report

The first item is a report on the common position on the liberalisation of postal services. That has now been agreed in the Council of Ministers. We had expressed some concern about the potential impact of liberalisation, particularly in rural areas. The papers contain my recommendation. Are there any comments? Do we want further briefing on the matter or are we content to allow the issue to progress?

We should keep an eye on it because we do not want to jeopardise the postal service for people in rural areas. Who knows what other plans the European Community might have in the future?

Yes. Is it agreed that we keep an eye on the matter, note the developments and, at a suitable time, send to the relevant MEPs a new version of our original letter to the Swedish presidency setting out our concerns about the possible impact on rural communities in Scotland?

Members indicated agreement.

The next item is the response from the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development to the letter on reform of the common fisheries policy. Is it agreed that we note the content of the letter?

Members indicated agreement.

The next item is the response from the Minister for Transport and Planning to the letter on public procurement and the implications for the Glasgow underground system. Is it agreed that we note the content of the letter?

Members indicated agreement.

The final item in this section is the outcome of the vote at second reading in the European Parliament on the report on the Council's common position for adopting a European Parliament and Council directive on establishing a general framework for improving information and consultation rights of employees in the European Community.

I am pleased that the European Parliament voted largely along the lines recommended by the European Committee, although not all members of the committee agreed with that recommendation. The result is progress and I hope that something will come from it in the conciliation stage.

Yesterday, I met the conveners of the equivalent European committees of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the National Assembly for Wales and learned that they closely examined our report on this issue and used it as the basis of their work. That shows that what we are doing is being scrutinised beyond our own Parliament. Are members all agreed to follow the recommendation on this item?

Members indicated agreement.