European and External Relations Committee,

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 9, 2006

Official Report 318KB pdf

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Pre and Post-council Scrutiny

The sixth item on the agenda is pre and post-European Union council scrutiny. The paper on the education, youth and culture council is late, but I hope that we will have it for our next meeting. If we do not, we will ask the questions that we generally ask when a paper is overdue. Does anyone have any comments to make?

I have a comment on the agriculture and fisheries council. The reports from the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department are right up to scratch after the complaints that we made. We should congratulate the department on that.

It has come to my attention that France and Spain are still pushing money into their fishing industries. Right now, our fishing industry is falling on its knees because of the rising price of diesel. The effect on the fishing industry is immense. Can we ask what representations the Scottish Executive is making on that issue?

The committee is well entitled to ask the Executive any such question that results from our scrutiny. If no one has a problem with that, I suggest that we write and ask.

Members indicated agreement.

Is there anything else on this item?

Page 10 mentions that Romania briefed the general affairs and external relations council on a high-level meeting on a single free trade area in south-east Europe. It is a bit remote, given that Romania is not yet part of the EU, although it will be in the not-too-distant future. We have a single European market, but we are talking about setting up a single free trade area in south-east Europe. Will it include Romania prior to its entry into the EU? What is the extent of the free trade agreement? What does it cover and does it have any relevance to Scotland's interests?

We could ask for more information on what exactly Romania was briefing the council about and find out whether the Romanians produced a paper for the briefing.

Members indicated agreement.