Official Report 211KB pdf
Agenda item 3 concerns European issues. The committee will recall that we agreed that we will have a regular update on European issues, which I present in a paper. The current paper is the fourth such report and it outlines some of the recent developments in the European Union, highlighting the main issues that are relevant to our work. Many of those issues will have an impact on the committee's work and we are already involved in some of them quite closely.
I have just received a copy of a press release from the Greens and the European Free Alliance in the European Parliament. They are concerned about—I will not say it in French—the industrial union that has been trying to get the legislation watered down. Some individual companies—Boots and Electrolux are mentioned—have expressed support for the EU's registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals policy, but the industry is trying to get the regulations made as non-stringent as possible. I would be interested to hear whether the minister has anything to say about the UK's position on that.
We can pick that up; it is an issue that we have raised before with the minister. Members will recall that I attended a conference that debated where the chemicals policy should lie and what the balance should be. We can raise that with the minister when he is with us.
I have a point to raise on the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive.
Okay. That is the next item on the paper.
It would be useful for us to get an update from the minister on where we are on the WEEE directive, batteries and groundwater. It would be especially useful to know about the WEEE directive, but we should keep the other two issues in our sights. We can ask the minister what preparatory work is being done, given that we know the general text of what is required, so that we will not have to run to catch up once legislation is introduced. In Scotland, there will be specific issues relating to groundwater that we will need to keep an eye on.
That is relevant. We all remember the fridge issue—we do not want to go there again with the WEEE directive. I am noting members' points down as we go through the list and, when we speak to the minister, I will look to the members who have raised the issues to speak.
It would be useful to get the minister's view on that, especially in relation to whether there is a role for the proposed Community fisheries control agency in supporting the work of observers on boats.
Okay.
You will not be surprised to learn that I think that we should pursue the issue with vigour. The proposals will have fundamental implications for Scotland. We should follow them with close interest and ensure that we have made our views known to the minister as he works through the process with his UK colleagues.
Yes. We are especially keen for there to be a wider range of rural development spending. That is one of the issues that we identified in our common agricultural policy reform report and in our budget scrutiny.
The other matter that we should not take our eye off is less favoured area status. That is hugely important to Scotland, yet it seems to be under threat.
Okay.
Again, that is an issue that we must keep a close eye on in the context of our islands. The island dimensions are perhaps not generally understood in Europe.
Okay.
I presume that we can also raise issues as we go along.
Absolutely. The checklist is just to ensure that we address the key issues that we have identified.
I mean the issues that are in the paper.
Absolutely. I want to give members the opportunity to put issues on our agenda for the future. We have not done that this morning, but we have a range of issues to raise with the minister.
Meeting suspended.
On resuming—