Official Report 381KB pdf
We move on to the “Brussels Bulletin”, which is jam-packed with stuff. Although Parliaments may not have been sitting over the summer, a lot of work has certainly been going on. Are there any comments, questions, clarifications or queries?
I have noted two or three issues. What are the implications of Glasgow being awarded the label of European entrepreneurial region? Can we get a little bit more information on that, please?
The huge response from European citizens on nature legislation is worthy of our attention. What are the implications of the issue for Scotland? A fitness check is mentioned. We should follow through on that, given the importance of wild areas of Scotland.
I also note that an extraordinary meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take place next week,
“with discussions focusing on the economic situation in the dairy and livestock sectors.”
That is a live issue in my constituency as lots of dairy farmers are in crisis because of issues with milk prices and so on. I would also like more follow-up on that issue.
Yes, we can do that.
I noticed the reference to the stakeholder event that was held on 29 June on unconventional hydrocarbons and the suggestion that
“The Commission is reviewing non-binding guidelines on environmental protections for fracking and will decide before the end of 2015 on whether further measures are required.”
It would be helpful if someone could keep an eye on what is happening with that and report back, as it is an issue of considerable interest to constituents in most parts of Scotland.
Hear, hear.
I support Adam Ingram’s comments on milk prices. Not only in Scotland and the UK but throughout Europe, farmers are clearly struggling very badly at the moment because of the price instability. It is really affecting the industry and the situation is serious. The bulletin states:
“The Commission announced market measures for fruit and vegetables and milk to mitigate pressure on prices”.
That is the usual Eurobabble. Can we have a briefing on what that might mean and how it might assist Scottish farmers who produce milk? There is obviously also a role for the Scottish and UK Governments to play. Many farmers feel that they are at the mercy of supermarkets, which are pricing the commodity at even less than the cost of water, which is ridiculous. Any further help and information that the clerks could bring to assist the farming community in our constituencies would be appreciated.
There is the ban that has been imposed by Russia as well as the collapse in the Chinese trade in this area, so there are international forces at work here. We need to get a bit of a handle on the situation and work out what can be done to help our farmers.
In some areas, there is an overproduction, which also drives down prices across Europe. I agree that we should look into that.
On the back page of the bulletin, there is information on horizon 2020, which the committee has always had an interest in. Members will see that there is quite a lot of detail there. I just want to raise awareness about that and to ensure that our colleagues in the Education and Culture Committee see some of the work that has been done. We learn that
“36,732 eligible proposals were submitted to the first 100 calls”
under horizon 2020. That is pretty good and it compares well with the previous situation. I have been speaking to a few people over the past few weeks who are innovators or educators at universities and they have been talking about how they are using horizon 2020, so it is there and it is working away. I want to make sure that we specifically refer the Education and Culture Committee to that point.
Are members happy to share the “Brussels Bulletin” with all our colleagues in other committees to raise awareness?
Members indicated agreement.
We should also raise awareness of the milk situation with the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee because I know that it is doing specific work on that.
10:01 Meeting continued in private until 10:41.