European Committee, 11 Sep 2001
Meeting date: Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Official Report
185KB pdf
EC Water Framework Directive
The third item on the agenda is implementation of the EC water framework directive. The First Minister announced that the directive would be the focus and objective of the proposed water environment bill. Presumably, the Transport and the Environment Committee will be the lead committee on the bill. However, because of this committee's remit and some of the work undertaken by one of our members, Maureen Macmillan, we might be able to contribute to the consideration of the bill.
I suggest that, before any other committee embarks on stage 1 consideration of the bill, we examine some of the broader issues such as flexibility, exemptions, derogations and whether the Executive plans to negotiate with the Commission. The directive will directly affect some industries in Scotland. Although I do not want to undertake—or undermine—the work of another committee, we could add some value to its discussions on the bill by considering the European dimension.
I suggest that we ask the clerk and our legal adviser to prepare a paper that would cover some of the key issues where flexibility might be required and some of the possibilities within the directive. We could also meet representatives of the industries and of areas that would be most directly affected, such as north-east Scotland and Islay, and discuss their concerns. I would obviously want to make our colleagues in the lead committee aware of what we were doing. However, given the pressures that will face that committee, we could undertake some work that might assist it.
Do members have any comments?
I think that we all agree with your reasonable comments, convener. That is why no one is really saying anything.
Do members agree to the course of action suggested?
Members indicated agreement.