Item 3 on the agenda is the convener's report.
I ask members to agree that the clerk should analyse the Executive's detailed response to our report on infectious salmon anaemia and come back to us with recommendations, should follow-up be required. Are we agreed?
I propose that a delegation from the committee visit St Timothy's Primary School in Glasgow, which has invested significantly in encouraging a European perspective among its pupils. The school has raised awareness and uses European issues as educational themes. Some of the initiatives developed at St Timothy's might help us to make Europe more relevant to young people, by allowing us to consider how European and international issues can be integrated into the curriculum. I ask members to agree my proposal in principle. Thereafter, the clerk should establish which members are interested in joining the delegation and identify suitable dates. Is that agreed?
Did the school submit the proposal or has the committee been trawling for schools with an interest in European matters?
The school approached the committee. However, following some of the committee's decisions, I asked the clerk to consider ways in which the committee might engage with young people and other sectors of the community. Indeed, the clerk is working on a series of proposals that we considered to bring together the various players who are involved in European issues. It is important that the committee tries to engage with young people. There might be something to be gained from a visit to St Timothy's that we would be able to apply elsewhere or to make recommendations about.
When the committee first began its work, I remember that we discussed holding a conference. Is that conference still in the pipeline?
Yes, we are still considering it. You may recall that, way back at the beginning, this committee was the first one to consider such an initiative, but funds were not available at the time. As we would have had to consider other ways of financing a conference, we decided against that initiative. Now that funds are available, the clerks are working up a series of proposals, which I hope they will bring back to the committee fairly soon.
I ask members to note the developments in relation to the Executive's plans for the transposition of the European water framework directive. I am trying to keep up to date with progress and I am sure that the Transport and the Environment Committee will consider the directive when it conducts its inquiry. I will ask the clerks to liaise with that committee to identify areas of interest to this committee. Is that course of action agreed?
Do members agree to note the developments in relation to the landfill directive? The clerks will keep us informed of progress.
Like other committee members, I thought that the committee's visit to Brussels was worth while and productive. A number of individuals and organisations gave us a considerable amount of time during our visit, which led to contacts that we are keen to develop. For example, Jim Currie, who is from the environment directorate-general, indicated that he would be happy to visit Edinburgh, the Parliament and the European Committee; I am sure that other committees would also be interested to meet him. We had useful discussions on issues such as football transfer fees and it was clear that the Commission had considered our report in detail. I thought that the trip was successful, and I invite members to make relevant comments.
I put on record our thanks to the staff, who did a marvellous job of shepherding us around, finding us and getting us to the right place.
Did not the clerks lose Ben?
He was not lost—he knew where he was.
Yes—visiting the Flemish Parliament was a cultural shock.
The reception and catering at the Flemish Parliament was of a standard that would be well worth imitating at the Scottish Parliament for visiting delegations and dignitaries.
You can write the press release, Colin.
Would Colin like to report his views to the Holyrood progress group?
Elizabeth Holt from the European Commission office in Edinburgh was extremely helpful, as was Dermot Scott. Without their help, we would not have made such good contacts.
Elizabeth Holt has left the room, but Dermot Scott is still here. Once again, they were very helpful and spent a lot of time liaising with the clerk and his staff. We do not see the efforts that are put into making the arrangements behind the scenes. Our staff did a great job, but we should also thank both Dermot and Liz for their contribution to making the trip such a great success.
I want to make a small point. While, in general, all the people whom we met made us very welcome indeed, the European Parliament could learn some lessons about openness from the Flemish Parliament.
I do not think that Dennis has quite got over waiting outside in the cold to gain access to the European Parliament.
I went to Belfast on 16 March with David Simpson. The meeting was chaired by Ewin Poots, who chairs the Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee of the Centre—I would not call it the centre, as both he and his deputy chairman are from Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party—which looks after European affairs.
I thank John Home Robertson for his report.
We have set a trend of inviting a representative from the country that is to take on the presidency of the European Council to make a presentation. The Belgian ambassador has therefore been asked to make a presentation and has informed us that the only suitable time is 29 June. If we can confirm that date, do members agree that we should arrange a wider programme of activities on that day? That could establish a model for future incoming presidency representatives. We could perhaps consider mounting something in the Parliament with a theme—in this case, the focus would be on Belgium. We could invite members of other committees to participate. Is that course of action agreed?
It seems that the telecommunications council will make a decision on the proposed reforms to the postal service directive (97/67/EC) by 27 to 29 June. Do members agree to put our concerns to the presidency of the European Council and to make representations to key MEPs, so as to keep plugging away at the issue?
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