Official Report 437KB pdf
Welcome back. Agenda item 3 is the “Brussels Bulletin”, which Scotland Europa put together for us. I invite members to make comments or ask questions.
I think that we were advised of this earlier, but it is good to see it confirmed in black and white on page 3 of the “Brussels Bulletin” that, in relation to
I say thank you to the clerks for getting back to us with such detailed answers to the questions that we asked last week. That was very helpful.
I was interested to read on page 6 that the budget for the proposed Erasmus for all programme is to have
The backdrop to that is contained in the section on “Free movement of workers”, which is also on page 7 and says:
I share those views, convener.
On common agricultural policy funds recovery, which is mentioned on page 5, does the €230 million that has been clawed back from people who have not complied with cross-compliance rules go back into the EU agriculture pot? What happens to that money?
That is a good question. We will seek clarification.
The bulletin does not say what happens to it.
In our new approach to the “Brussels Bulletin”, we can get feedback, technical or procedural clarifications, a short briefing from SPICe or a more detailed policy update, or we can request information from the Scottish Government or further written or oral evidence from whoever we think appropriate. If we set those processes up properly, we will get clear answers to questions. We will note the question that you have asked.
Thank you.
I note that an agreement on the multi-annual financial framework budget arrangements was to be reached a few days ago. Do members recall that one of the potential victims or casualties in that agreement was investment in broadband infrastructure, whose budget was going to take an 80 per cent hit? Is that, in fact, the case and, if so, how might the committee express concern about it? I am sure that other members in the European Union will be concerned by such a huge drop in European investment in broadband infrastructure.
I certainly support Willie Coffey’s comments.
I think that the cut was 80-odd per cent.
Yes—it was upwards of 80 per cent.
I also want to know the effects of such a move on Scotland—
And the roll-out programme.
Indeed. A lot of money is about to be rolled out for broadband.
I believe that a previous bulletin said that there was 28 billion across the EU for broadband. Given that the UK Government had made a certain amount available—£375 million is the figure that comes to mind—the amount of money that was coming to the UK as a member state was pathetic. All these Tories—I am sorry, Jamie—keep going on about the money that we put into Europe, but why do they not work harder at getting the money that the UK is entitled to for things such as broadband and ensure that we get a much bigger slice of the cake? The way in which they are behaving down south is simply farcical.
When the EU minister gives evidence on 27 June, we will be able to ask him those questions. I know that he watches our meetings whenever they are on, so he has probably already been tipped off about some of the questions that we will ask.
I have a comment rather than a question on the section on “Free movement of workers” in the bulletin. Given the free rein—as it were—that is being given to Romanians and Bulgarians from 1 January next year, I was quite interested in the proposed directive requiring
As Scotland’s economic and demographic needs differ from those in the rest of the UK, the directive might be vital for our industry and education sectors but might not be as vital for other parts of the UK.
Giving employers and migrant workers a port of call to ensure that they understand their responsibilities certainly seems a step in the right direction and anything that helps to chip away at the current anti-migrant-worker climate is to be welcomed.
I agree.
Convener, I should clarify for the Official Report that when I mentioned “28 billion” I was talking about euros, not pounds.
That clarification is on the record.