European Treaty (Discussions)

Question Time — Scottish Executive — Europe, External Affairs and Culture – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:15 pm on 13 September 2007.

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Photo of Gil Paterson Gil Paterson Scottish National Party 2:15, 13 September 2007

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is in discussions with the United Kingdom Government about the European treaty. (S3O-616)

Photo of Linda Fabiani Linda Fabiani Scottish National Party

Yes. The Scottish Government continues to contribute to UK negotiating lines at the intergovernmental conference on the European Union reform treaty. I attended the joint ministerial committee on Europe ahead of the European Council, and the First Minister has written to the Foreign Secretary to make clear our constructive approach to developing UK negotiating lines and to set out issues of particular interest to us.

Photo of Gil Paterson Gil Paterson Scottish National Party

Although the treaty is clearly reserved, will the Scottish Government seek to advise the UK Government on the desirability of holding a referendum on the matter, particularly given that the proposed measures in the treaty are exactly the same as those in the discredited European constitution?

Photo of Linda Fabiani Linda Fabiani Scottish National Party

Although it is only proper that we respect the confidentiality of on-going international negotiations, and although members should be aware that the intergovernmental conference has a limited scope, I should make it clear that, given Scotland's very distinct legal and judicial system, we have a particular interest in the operation of the UK's justice and home affairs opt-in protocol and emergency brake procedure. We agree with the UK on other elements of the treaty, but we cannot under any circumstances agree to so-called redline issues such as the inclusion of the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy.

Changes are being made to the text of the treaty, and the time to reach a considered judgment on the question whether a referendum is the right way to go will be when we get the full text back. We expect to get the text in October, and we are looking forward to seeing it.