European and External Relations Committee, 16 Jan 2007

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Official Report 244KB pdf

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European Maritime Policy

We now come on to item 2 on our agenda, which is consideration of a paper reporting on the European maritime policy conference that was held here on 4 December last year. For various reasons, I was the only member of the committee able to attend that day, although others tried hard.

It was extremely worth while and everyone who was involved felt that it was enjoyable and of great use. Members will have read the papers that came with the report. Does anyone have any comments?

I have no particular interest in or understanding of the subject. I read the paper as an outsider, and it seemed to read as if the conference had been hugely successful and high-powered. I thought that it looked as if, for those who are interested, it worked really well.

There was a general feeling of satisfaction—I do not know if that is the word—among those who attended that they were being asked to take part early on in discussion of a major issue with a view to contributing to future policy. That is something that this committee has striven for of late. It was very worth while.

Although he had to leave early, before he did Dennis Canavan asked me to mention his interest in the research and development aspect of what came out of the conference. He thinks that we should emphasise our country's skills and capabilities in marine research and development. He particularly mentioned the University of Aberdeen and the University of St Andrews. If anyone else has anything particular that they would like me to raise in relation to the policy, I am more than happy to do so.

When are you going, convener? Is it next month?

Emma Berry and I will be out there on 6 February for the dissemination event, now that the Conveners Group has agreed. The dissemination event is a day-long seminar with people from Schleswig-Holstein and Finland, who have carefully considered the legislation and how it will affect them.

I ask members to agree that we consider a formal response to the Commission's consultation following the report from the dissemination event.

Very good.

The National Assembly of Wales has also launched a consultation on the Commission's maritime policy green paper. I thought that it might be useful if we submitted our conference transcript as a contribution to that process.

Members indicated agreement.