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Agenda item 4 is the “Brussels Bulletin”, which we will consider in the usual manner. Are there any questions or clarifications?
This is not so much a question; it is more of a comment really.
There is an interesting bit on renewable energy that says how well Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Sweden are doing. However, France, Germany and the UK are not doing very well—although Scotland is in a slightly different position. That indicates that the targets might be quite difficult to reach, unless there is a marked improvement.
Okay. Is there anything else?
On page 8, which deals with alcohol under the heading “Health and Sport”, it says:
“On 28 April, the European Parliament adopted a resolution”
and launched
“a new alcohol strategy to enter force in 2016.”
Have we seen that, or can we get a copy of it sent over?
We can get a copy of it. That ties in closely with the Scottish Government’s priorities on alcohol reduction and health.
That is what I was thinking—about how that impacts on our alcohol strategy.
We can get that strategy.
I refer to the digital single market comments on page 4. I am underwhelmed by the 16-point plan to advance the whole digital economy. I am pretty sure that the initiatives are all fairly worthy, whatever some of them involve—for example, “Ending unjustified ‘geo-blocking’” is referred to; I am sure that we would be delighted to find out what on earth that is—but the European Commission does not really have its eye on the big issues to do with digital technology, mobile services and broadband that might interest customers throughout the European Union.
For example, why is the Commission not thinking about moving to a single EU tariff for mobiles? Why is it not thinking about a race to the top for superfast broadband so that all infrastructure is as good as that of the best member of the European Union, rather than everybody doing their own thing? Why is it not thinking about opening up access for customers to digital service providers throughout Europe? We are locked in to buying services from companies in our particular member state. Surely such issues should be of interest to people right across the European Union.
The initiatives are worthy, but I have no idea who decided that they are the priorities for the digital agenda in Europe. I do not know where we as a committee should go with the issue. We have raised it many times. Perhaps we could speak to somebody who is influential about the setting up of the strategy and why it came to be what it is. I am pretty certain that, if we sat ordinary folk down in front of the strategy, they would give us a different set of priorities.
There is a Commissioner for the Digital Single Market. We could investigate who that commissioner is.
Could we possibly seek a meeting if we ever get to visit Brussels?
Absolutely.
The issue is a priority for us.
We can do something with the European Parliament when we are in Strasbourg in October.
Maybe that should be one of things that we want to do.
I appreciate that we will not drive the agenda, but somebody is driving it, and I would like to find out who that is and why they came up with the set of 16 points. They are interesting, but they are not the crucial issues for me.
It is also important that it is appreciated that the digital economy is an issue and a priority for us so that, the next time such decisions are made, it will be remembered that we had an issue.
Yes.
Are members content to make the “Brussels Bulletin” available to other committees for their perusal?
Members indicated agreement.
I wonder whether the stuff that is being done about school milk is intended to help the dairy crisis in any way. I wonder whether it is linked to that.
Are you referring to the dairy milk plan?
Yes.
There was information about that a few weeks ago. We can certainly have a look at that and get you some more information.
I just wondered.
The local authority in my area has withdrawn free school milk, so I would be interested in the plan.
The dairy industry needs help.
Yes.
That concludes today’s business. Our next meeting will be an informal one with the international development sector on 21 May.
Meeting closed at 11:13.
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