European and External Relations Committee,

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Official Report 156KB pdf

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“Brussels Bulletin”

Agenda item 3 is the "Brussels Bulletin". Do members have any comments? I am looking at Jamie Hepburn—I am sure that he has something he wants to raise with us.

I do indeed. I know that you are always disappointed when I have nothing to say, convener, so I have a comment especially for you.

My comment relates to the Spanish presidency of the European Union. I note that there is a joint statement from the Spanish and French Governments. The statement is available in Spanish—you will need to forgive me, but my standard-grade Spanish probably precludes my understanding a statement from the Spanish Government about its priorities for its presidency of the EU. Can we get some information about those priorities? We have a bit of information, but I am particularly interested in the work that the Spanish Government hopes to undertake to improve the regulation and supervision of financial markets. Can we get more information on that?

Perhaps when the "Brussels Bulletin" went to press, the joint statement was available only in Spanish. Usually, as documents are lodged, there are further translations. We can look into whether the full document is now available in English. If it is not, we will ask Ian Duncan to give us more detail on the financial and economic crisis proposals, if that is acceptable.

I note that the Spanish agenda that will come up after January seems to be firmly focused on the financial crisis.

Page 4 of the "Brussels Bulletin" talks about the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee's visit to the European Parliament. It would be interesting to have a breakdown of its findings. This committee should have an interest in that.

Absolutely. As a result of our discussions and early engagement, we alerted the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee to issues that will arise regarding common agricultural policy reform. It is good that the committee was able to meet Commissioner Fischer Boel, and it would be interesting to get a bit of feedback. I am sure that we can do that.

Good.

You would expect me to draw attention to the common fisheries policy, and the fact that the green paper was released in April 2009. It says that absolutely everything is on the table, but the one thing that is not on the table is the possibility of withdrawal from the CFP. Perhaps Ian Duncan can bring us up to date on that.

It would be useful to hear about the state of play with Iceland. It will be interesting to see whether Iceland is welcomed into the EU, and, in that eventuality, what will happen to the giant reserves of fish around the country's coast.

There is a short report on progress regarding Iceland's possible membership. We can keep a distant eye on it. I imagine that that is an internal matter for the Government of Iceland and the EU.

I note that most of Scotland's MEPs—Catherine Stihler, Struan Stevenson, Elspeth Attwooll and Ian Hudghton—spoke up on the need for reform of the CFP. Clearly, our MEPs are keeping a close eye on that—that is important. Although the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee has decided that it will take a first look at the green paper, it will be interesting for us to keep a watching brief on how things progress in that regard. I am sure that the clerks will be able to do so.

Are members content to note the content of the "Brussels Bulletin"?

Members indicated agreement.

Meeting continued in private until 11:52.