European and External Relations Committee,

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Official Report 235KB pdf

---

Lisbon Treaty Inquiry

The fifth item is an approach paper from the clerk for the committee's proposed inquiry on the impact of the Lisbon treaty. It is an important paper for our future work. I invite comments on the substance of the paper before we consider its recommendation.

It is a valuable paper that highlights the key issues that we need to examine. I was particularly interested in the issues of subsidiarity, which we will all have to do a lot of work on in order to develop some form of relationship with Westminster. That does not currently exist at a parliamentary level, in any sense. Relationships are currently at Government level.

I agree. Referring to paragraph 15 of the paper, we should pay attention to the evidence that we have already heard about having some mechanism or protocol for the Scottish Government and the UK Government to engage automatically and to interface with stakeholders in Europe. I am encouraged.

Are members content to agree with the proposed remit and schedule for the inquiry, as set out in the approach paper?

In relation to the section of the paper headed "Freedom, Security and Justice", to what extent are we liaising with the Justice Committee? What work is it doing on the matter? I know that its members will shortly be in Brussels to work on the issue.

We have flagged up the matter to the Justice Committee, which is in Brussels today. We will continue to work with the clerks to that committee.

Is that okay?

Members indicated agreement.