Column August 2006

Published on Tue 1st Aug 2006

Reviews of the year commonly come in December but, with the European Parliament taking a six-week break over the summer, now seems an appropriate time.

Looking back, we have certainly seen some groundbreaking votes- particularly on the testing of chemicals and on the provision of services from one country to another. In both cases, the difficult task of reconciling conflicting interests was achieved with a good measure of success.

Then there were all the negotiations with the EU governments on the finances through to 2013, and on the use of some of that money for funding projects in its different areas, including here at home in Scotland.

Although we did not win on every issue, we did gain some major concessions. Amongst these, respectively, were the amounts to be used on health, research, student exchanges and cross-border activities, and on the need to promote protection of the environment, access for disabled people and local participation in spending plans.

And, of course, both enlargement and the ultimate fate of the constitutional treaty have been high on the agenda. With Romania and Bulgaria poised to join in 2007, and discussions with Turkey and countries in the Balkans at various stages of development, there has certainly been a lot to consider.

As to the treaty, there have been 'no' votes in France and the Netherlands but agreement on it from more than half the other countries involved. With the rest still to come to a view, time is being taken out for reflection. Before long, though, some concrete proposals on the way forward shall be needed and it is important that Scotland adds her voice to the debate.

One development, though, which did not need any treaty change, and for which the Parliament successfully pressed, is the recent decision of the governments to hold their meetings in public for the laws which they make jointly with the Parliament.

So our final meetings in July were undertaken in good heart. Since then, for me, it has been paperwork in the office and a trip to Aberdeen, for meetings about both oil and gas and the prototype wind turbines being installed off the Moray coast.

Holidays now beckon. They, too, are in Scotland. It is good to know that I shall not have to get on an aeroplane again for some weeks to come!