European and External Relations Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, March 26, 2015

Official Report 503KB pdf

---

“Brussels Bulletin”

Agenda item 3 is the “Brussels Bulletin”. I know that in the past few meetings we have skated through the bulletin, because we have been squeezed for time, but this morning we have a bit of time in hand if members want to do a deeper analysis. I see that Jamie McGrigor is ready to get in there immediately.

There seems to be an awful lot on energy and stuff, but the information on bee health is significant, with a problem with bees being reported in Italy. Anything that affects pollination is significant, because the process is vital to agriculture all over Europe.

Indeed. Of course, we have our own beehives in the Parliament now.

Do we?

Yes.

Who eats the honey?

I do not think that we have got as far as producing honey, Jamie. One thing at a time.

It is an experimental thing that is going on right now. However, your point is absolutely right.

I was glad to see that information. I do not see anything else in the bulletin to comment on, but I would like to say that the bulletin’s other format was much better. It was like a bulletin, whereas what we are looking at today is not—it is just a load of facts.

I have a comment rather than a question. It is a bit disappointing to see in the renewables section that, among all the member states that have had some success in meeting the 2020 target that was set by the EU, the United Kingdom seems to be further away from doing that than any other member state. Obviously, that is in marked contrast to what is happening here in Scotland.

I want to raise the digital agenda again. As members will be aware, the European Union has delayed its abolition of roaming charges. I would like us to find out why that decision was taken and who was consulted on it, because it seems to me to be completely at odds with the Commission’s strategy for the single digital market. It is a disappointment that the move could be delayed for a further three years. Can we find out a little bit more about how the decision was reached and who agreed it?

We can do that. Are members happy to make the bulletin available to other committees?

Members indicated agreement.

I have just one more point, convener. The last sentence of the section on investment says, with regard to the European fund for strategic investments:

“The EFSI can only become operational once the Parliament and the Member States have adopted a common position.”

I wonder when that will happen. If the EFSI is so important to bringing forth growth in Europe, it is vital that it gets going but, as far as I can tell, that will not happen until a common position is adopted. How long is that going to take?

One of the challenges for the Juncker investment plan is the proposed cuts to horizon 2020 or the reallocation of that money to the investment plan. The impact that that would have on Scottish universities is worrying.

It is €16 billion. That is a lot of money.

Do you want more information on that?

I would quite like to know how long it is likely to take for the Parliament and the member states to adopt a common position and what is involved in that.

We can find that out and ask about a timetable.