Scotland’s Action Plan for EU Engagement

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First published by The Scottish Government, March 2015
ISBN: 978-1-78544-216-2 (web only)

E-book in EPUB format first published by The Scottish Government, March 2015
ISBN: 978-1-78544-217-9 (EPUB)

E-book in MOBI format first published by The Scottish Government, March 2015
ISBN: 978-1-78544-218-6 (MOBI)

Published by The Scottish Government, March 2015

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Our Focus

Delivery

Foreword

Scotland’s Engagement in Europe

The Scottish Government believes that the European Union offers the best international framework to deliver prosperity for the people of Scotland. Being part of the EU has delivered enormous social, cultural and economic benefits to Scotland for more than 40 years, and has allowed us to make distinctive contributions to addressing global challenges such as climate change; delivering sustainable growth; and energy security. It has also enabled us to make our progressive voice heard in the world.

That is why in our Programme for Government 2014-2015, we undertook to develop this Action Plan for EU Engagement, which sets out our aim of protecting Scotland’s place in the EU and our vision of securing a strong and positive Scottish influence on key elements of EU policy which affect prosperity, fairness and sustainability in Scotland. It also sets out the work we are doing to develop strong relationships with our partners in Europe to our mutual benefit. In undertaking these activities, we will make a contribution to ensuring the EU can function as an institution capable of delivering economic and social prosperity for all of its citizens.

The Scottish Government is, of course, not the only organisation active in pursuing Scotland’s interests in Europe. Part of our work in Europe is with partners like Scotland Europa, the Highlands and Islands European Partnership, VisitScotland, CoSLA and others to jointly and consistently communicate messages about Scotland’s strengths and to identify opportunities that Scotland can benefit from.

We are jointly engaging in the EU at a crucial moment, as policy-makers seek to respond to the needs and aspirations of their citizens. The economic crisis was not only hugely challenging for the citizens of Europe, it was a challenge to the role of the EU itself. In that climate, messages of Euroscepticism found support in almost every Member State, as the results of the 2014 European Parliamentary elections showed. Those of us who believe that the EU is important – as an agent capable of delivering jobs, peace, prosperity and social progress – need to take decisive action.

This means that, as well as ensuring that we fulfil our EU obligations, we must also seek to challenge and improve what already exists in the EU. The Scottish Government has done so by publishing its Agenda for EU Reform, which has the fundamental aim of bringing the EU closer to its citizens. There could be no better way for the EU to make progress towards this than to deliver economic growth – not as an end in itself, but as a means of realising a more prosperous and fairer society.

We are encouraged that this is being recognised by EU policy-makers. The new European Commission has set out guidelines for its work over the next five years in its Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change. Those themes are already well represented in the Commission’s Work Programme for 2015. We welcome these steps; they are a crucial continuation of the central aim of the Europe 2020 Strategy – to deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The Scottish Government has been contributing its expertise and ideas to this Strategy since its introduction in 2010 and will continue to play its part positively and constructively, in cooperation with its partners in Scotland and across the EU.

Humza Yousaf
Minister for Europe and
International Development
March 2015

Introduction

In the Programme for Government 2014-2015, the Scottish Government affirmed its purpose of creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

To realise that purpose, the Scottish Government has since published Scotland’s Economic Strategy and Scotland’s International Framework and now, Scotland’s Action Plan for EU Engagement.

The ambitions of these documents are all interlinked in pursuit of the Government’s purpose. Scotland’s Economic Strategy focuses on two mutually supportive goals – increasing competitiveness and tackling inequality – and sets out four key priorities by which these will be achieved.

Four Priorities of the Economic Strategy

1. Investing in our people and our infrastructure

2. Fostering a culture of innovation

3. Promoting inclusive growth and creating opportunity

4. Promoting Scotland on the international stage

Scotland’s Economic Framework

Delivery of the Economic Strategy’s international agenda is supported by Scotland’s International Framework. The Framework has prioritised engagement in the European Union as a strategic objective in this work; alongside the enhancement of our global outlook; the strengthening of our external relationships and networks; and building of Scotland’s reputation and international attractiveness.

This Action Plan sets out how the Scottish Government will work in Europe to deliver in the area of engagement in the EU.

An Action Plan for Scotland’s EU Engagement

The Scottish Government’s Action Plan for EU Engagement will focus our activity on four main areas:

- Being a committed partner: We will remain a committed European actor, making the case for our place in Europe, and working to enhance Scotland’s voice within the EU.

- EU reform: We will promote effective and meaningful EU reform within the framework of the existing EU treaties for the benefit of Scotland and the entire territory of the EU.

- Active participation: We will work to secure investment, innovation and inclusive growth to support Scotland’s Economic Strategy.

- Strengthening partnerships: We will strengthen our relationships with European partners to develop and deliver mutually beneficial outcomes, policies and programmes, in pursuit of our objectives.

This paper is intended to provide strategic direction to the Scottish Government’s EU engagement. It will be paired with an enhanced digital platform which will describe and illustrate how we pursue our objectives and which will capture examples of our activity. Through regular updates, it will have the capacity to reflect evolution of the EU policy agenda and corresponding changes in Scottish Government activity.

Our Focus

1) Being a committed partner: We will remain a committed European actor, making the case for our place in Europe, and working to enhance Scotland’s voice within the EU.

The Scottish Government firmly believes that the EU is the best international framework to deliver social and economic gains for the people of Scotland, and to tackle the global challenges facing Scotland and its partners world-wide. We do not consider that there is a viable alternative to our EU membership capable of delivering economic and social prosperity to the people of Scotland, nor of enabling us to fulfil the Scottish Government’s ambitions for international engagement.

As such, we will make the case for Scotland remaining in the EU and cement our reputation as a committed European actor – both at home and abroad. We will do this by highlighting the benefits gained through our EU membership along with the unsuitability of alternative arrangements.

The Scottish Government will also work to enhance Scotland’s role within the EU by engaging with the UK Government and Devolved Administrations to ensure that Scotland’s distinct interests are represented. This will include making representations at official and Ministerial level on the formulation of the UK position on EU policies and legislation. Scottish Ministers will also seek attendance and speaking rights at Council meetings of the EU in areas of specific Scottish interest and will work with the UK Government to implement the recommendations of the Smith Commission on the devolution of further powers to the Scottish Parliament.

In addition to this, the Scottish Government will strive to enhance Scotland’s voice in the EU by working directly with the European Commission, European Parliament and other Member States, regions and organisations, on areas of interest to Scotland.

2) EU reform: We will promote effective and meaningful EU reform within the framework of the existing EU treaties for the benefit of Scotland and the entire territory of the EU.

The Scottish Government greatly values Scotland’s position within the EU and is committed to exerting as much influence as possible over the future direction of the EU with the aim of reconnecting the EU with its citizens. Restoring public confidence in the EU institutions and their governance must be a key priority for the European Commission and the European Parliament in the months and years ahead, and should inform the strategic work of both institutions.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the European Commission with the aim of influencing it to prioritise those policies which will increase economic growth and competitiveness, while enhancing social justice and preserving the environment. The Scottish Government will strive to influence the development of EU regulation so that it is relevant to Scotland and does not impose onerous burdens on enterprise, which can hinder economic growth and negatively affect employment.

3) Active participation: We will work to secure investment, innovation and inclusive growth to support Scotland’s Economic Strategy.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with European partners and the EU institutions to deliver on the strategic objectives of Scotland’s Economic Strategy:

- securing investment;

- supporting innovation; and

- promoting inclusive growth.

- Investing in our people, infrastructure and assets in a sustainable way
The Scottish Government supports EU action which promotes economic growth and increases competitiveness. However, as Scotland’s Economic Strategy makes clear, it is important that we achieve the right balance of growth: reducing inequalities across society, and protecting and improving Scotland’s natural environment to deliver a more prosperous and resilient economy over the long term.

- Fostering a culture of innovation
Scotland’s Economic Strategy recognises that innovation is a fundamental driver of long-term competitiveness and sustainable growth. It is therefore entirely appropriate that the ambitions articulated in the Innovation Union to create growth and jobs in Europe should continue to be one of the cornerstone objectives of the European Commission and one that the Scottish Government strongly endorses.

- Promoting inclusive growth
Scotland’s Economic Strategy recognises that a more cohesive economy improves the opportunities, life chances and well-being of Scotland’s citizens. The Scottish Government therefore strongly supports inclusive growth based on equal opportunities, a fair and inclusive jobs market, regional cohesion and safe and secure communities.

4) Strengthening partnerships: We will strengthen our relationships with European partners to develop and deliver mutually beneficial outcomes, policies and programmes, in pursuit of our objectives.

The Scottish Government greatly values its engagement with the EU institutions and other European countries and regions. We recognise the importance of learning from others and sharing experience and best practice across Europe. Our relationships and partnerships also help us to develop and deliver on our shared objectives, policies and programmes and enhance Scotland’s reputation and attractiveness. It is therefore essential that we strengthen our relationships with European partners to develop and deliver mutually beneficial outcomes, policies and programmes in pursuit of our objectives.

The Scottish Government is determined to ensure that Scotland’s interests are represented in EU decision making, particularly where there is a distinctive or disproportionate impact on Scotland. Ensuring that our specific concerns are fully considered at the earliest stage of policy development at EU level offers the most effective route to outcomes that are acceptable and beneficial to the people of Scotland. Achieving this will include regular engagement with the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, as well as ensuring that the Scottish Government delivers on its obligation to implement EU law effectively and timeously.

Another key element of our European engagement is developing strong partnerships with like-minded European partners. Our focus is on delivering real results on investment, innovation and inequalities from our links with leading EU countries and regions, and on deepening diplomatic and cultural ties to provide opportunities to exchange best practice. In our bilateral engagement we seek to promote Scotland as an aspiring, tolerant, outwardly-focused country, and an ideal location in which to live, work, learn, invest, visit, and do business. The partnerships we develop with individual countries, or groups of countries, both support and benefit from our engagement within the EU and its institutions.

As part of its bilateral engagement, the Scottish Government will use cultural diplomacy to articulate Scotland’s distinct national identity, enhance mutual understanding, create an atmosphere of trust and celebration and support opportunities for collaborative working. We will also offer Scottish expertise and seek to learn from other countries’ policy successes, developing strong relationships with Consulates based in Scotland and Embassies in London to underpin bilateral relationships. This work will be facilitated by arranging Ministerial overseas visits – enabling them to present Scottish interests directly to decision-makers and key opinion-formers at European level, and welcoming inward delegations to Scotland from European countries.

Delivery

The Scottish Government’s purpose remains to focus on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. This is the overarching objective of Scotland’s Economic Strategy and one, which underpins our International Framework and this Action Plan.

The Scottish Government, its agencies and partners in Scotland, will all have a role to play in implementing this Plan and will work together to do so. Further detail and direction on policy prioritiesand activities will be captured and updated on our online platform, accessible at: www.gov.scot/europe.

Scotland Performs also measures and reports on the progress of government in Scotland towards achieving our objectives. You can judge for yourself how Scotland is progressing through ‘direction of travel’ arrows on our Performance at a Glance webpage. Assessments of such progress are regularly updated from the latest evidence and each has explanatory notes attached.