European and External Relations Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, April 3, 2014

Official Report 467KB pdf

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“Brussels Bulletin”

Agenda item 3 is consideration of the latest edition of the “Brussels Bulletin”. I seek comments and questions from colleagues.

I was interested to read the “Women in science” section of the bulletin, which states:

“European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn gave a speech to the Joint Event on Women Researchers on the role of women in science, entitled ‘from the margins to the centre’.”

That is of particular interest to the Scottish Parliament, which has discussed women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics on many occasions in the chamber. I welcome the focus at a European level.

To add a little to my colleague Clare Adamson’s comments, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn’s speech on bringing more women into science was a really positive step and we should emphasise it and try to do much more to bring women, especially youngsters, into science, particularly software engineering, which is a subject close to my heart and to Clare Adamson’s heart. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss and debate those issues in the chamber later today. It is a good, strong and positive move from Europe to recognise that the issue is of importance to us. I would like to be able to take a closer look at how it develops.

I highlight the issue of the transatlantic trade and investment partnership. We have had some representation to the committee on that, which we might pick up in the future to see how it pans out. It is quite a detailed agreement, with far-reaching consequences, both positive and possibly not so positive for some of the EU. There is always a positive side to any partnership agreement.

That leads me on to the negotiations in the EU about banking union and the further stabilisation of regulation and the eurozone, which is something that we have always kept our eye on. I suggest that we make sure that both those issues are highlighted to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee for its consideration.

We will make sure that the “Brussels Bulletin” is brought to the attention of the relevant committees.

What is happening with investigating how the bulletin is circulated within the Parliament?

We will have a conversation about that a wee bit later.

Are we happy to proceed as suggested?

Members indicated agreement.

10:25 Meeting continued in private until 11:20.