Official Report 235KB pdf
The final item on our agenda concerns the Scottish Government's European Union priorities. Members will recall that, at our meeting on 18 September, we took evidence from the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture on the Government's current EU priorities. At the same time, the minister presented the Government's key political objectives. The paper from the clerk, which members have before them, considers the issues arising from that evidence session and proposes action to take the work forward. Do members have any comments on the paper?
It is fair and representative of the discussion that we had. I am happy to agree to the action that it proposes.
Are members happy to agree to the paper's recommendations?
Do we also agree to flag up the EU budget review to the Finance Committee as something that it may wish to consider?
I am interested in the EU budget review. We did not discuss it much with the minister, but it is important. Are we talking about the whole EU budget or structural funds?
The whole budget, I think. Most of the funds that come here will be non-structural funds to do with research and development and stuff like that.
Do you want to comment on that, Jim?
The European Commission has just published a communication and a public consultation paper on the 2008-09 budget review. That consultation will be open until the middle of April, so the committee may want to consider it. We will circulate the Commission's communication to committee members.
Good.
Okay. That is everything. Thanks very much.
Meeting closed at 11:59.
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