European and External Relations Committee, 08 Nov 2005

Meeting date: Tuesday, November 8, 2005

Official Report 176KB pdf

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Pre and Post-council Scrutiny

Item 4 on our agenda is pre and post-council scrutiny, which, of course, is scrutiny of Council of the European Union agendas and reports. Do members have any comments on paper EU/S2/05/16/3? It seems pretty straightforward.

Having said that I would be quiet, I am starting again. I am sure that John Home Robertson will endorse what I am about to say—it relates to fisheries. On page 12 of the paper, it says:

"The UK Presidency will aim to assist a practical discussion on front-loading and maximum sustainable yield."

I am not quite sure about the Scottish Parliament's position on quotas and total allowable catches for 2006.

I presume that the Parliament will have the usual debate before the December council.

I am sure that there will be a debate. However, the normal procedure is to go through the debate and then have a lot of wailing, gnashing of teeth and rending of garments. I would really like to know the Scottish Executive's baseline for negotiations. I asked for that at a previous meeting. Has the Executive's position been passed to the minister who will represent the United Kingdom at the December council?

If committee members have no objections, we will find out that information.

That is fine.

Also on page 12, under the heading, "Proposed changes to the Sugar regime", is the comment:

"A contentious issue for several Member States but of limited significance in Scotland."

That is certainly not the case. Sugar is used as a raw material in the manufacture of a number of pharmaceuticals. In my constituency, 600 jobs depend on the cost of sugar. I would like it to be noted that the comment is not true and the issue is of substantial significance in Scotland.

Consider it noted.

On page 12 of the paper, the date given for the council to which Margaret Ewing referred is "22-24 September". I take it that the date is November.

Gosh, I did not spot that. I assume that it must be November.

It is not that it is a post-council report.

I am told that the council is in November.