 | 'It is hard to see how the Scottish Parliament could be prevented from holding a referendum on independence. If the Scottish people expressed a desire for independence, the stage would be set for a direct clash between what is the English doctrine of the sovereignty of Parliament and the Scottish doctrine of the sovereignty of the people.' Scottish Select Committe Report, November 1998. |  |
The scheme will give Scotland similar representation - possibly called Scotland House - to that of Catalonia in Spain, which has its own system of self-government.
Ministers have agreed that a European unit to be established by the Scottish executive and Scotland Europa, a body which represents a wide range of organisations, should come together in a single office.
Significantly, the new unit will be separate to UKrep, the office which represents the UK government. However, there will be close liaison between the Scottish and UK offices, senior Government sources have emphasised.
The Scottish Office has had two representatives in Brussels for some months, piloting the plans for a permanent presence in the city, and they have examined a number of options.
One issue which remained uncertain was whether the Scottish executive would locate its operation in the offices of Scotland Europa or be part of the UKrep set-up. The Scotsman has learned that, while the final decision is one for the Scottish executive when it is appointed next year, it will be recommended that the existing Scotland Europa office should be re-located, with the new accommodation also housing the officials representing the Scottish executive.
The new office will be close to the European Commission headquarters. Scotland Europa's office is not near any of the main European offices in Brussels and is no longer felt to be adequate.
One government source said 'We have taken advantage of the need to relocate the office in a way that will bring full benefit to Scotland. It is felt that the Scottish office should be accommodated in the same building with Scotland Europa to form a new Scotland House. It would effectively become the shop window for Scotland in Brussels.'
The proposal will not be enough to satisfy the Scottish National party, which has called for the appointment of a Scottish minister of external affairs with responsibility for European Union and international matters.
Leading figures in other opposition parties are likely to accept that the best compromise is an arrangement ensuring that Scotland has a presence in Brussels separate from UKrep.
Scottish Office ministers are likely to be at pains to emphasise in the coming months that while the arrangement will strengthen Scotland's interests in Europe they are keen to retain the positive links they have with UKrep.
Far from seeing UKrep as a rival, its officials are regarded as having been helpful in strengthening Scotland's hand and in assisting with the creation of the new Scottish Office arrangements.
Scotland Europa was set up five years ago as an umbrella organisation representing business, commercial, academic and local government interests in Brussels.
Although Scotland Europa would be located in the same building, the Scottish executive unit would operate separately from it because its officials will have a different role to play as part of the Holyrood government.
Controversy arose earlier this week when it was reported that senior civil servants had recommended the setting up of a powerful European affairs department for the Scottish parliament.
It was claimed that ministers were likely to be embarrassed and angered by the report's suggestion that the proposed department might report to a minister for Europe.
Calum MacDonald, the Scottish Office minister responsible for Europe, did not deny the existence of the report but strongly rejected suggestions that it was the cause of embarrassment. He pointed out that the Scottish Office had already created a European affairs division headed by a senior civil servant.
The SNP will regard the new office as a useful development, arguing that it is in favour of as many links with European institutions as possible. But it will continue to stress its view that a representative office is no substitute for a minister of external affairs.
Scottish Office ministers will reject any suggestion that its Brussels plans in any way parallel those of the SNP. They believe the proposals are designed specifically to ensure that the new Scottish administration can maximise its influence in Brussels as part of the devolved system of government.
Scotland House will help Holyrood develop the kind of influence enjoyed by other devolved regions across Europe, such as Catalonia in Spain, which has its own system of self-government.
Donald Dewar announced the plans for Scotland House at the European parliament in Strasbourg yesterday. "Europe will be one of the main areas of interest for the Scottish parliament," the Scottish Secretary said.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Jim Wallace, said: "A strong Scottish presence in Brussels will be helpful, but its worth will be seriously limited as long as our indigenous firms are obliged by the Government to compete with one hand tied behind their backs.
"Two cheers for the strengthened Scottish presence - the third cheer will come when the Prime Minister indicates a clear intention to join the euro, subject to a referendum of the British people."
He added: "It is clear that we need to have an input at an early stage over European policy. The establishment of a significant Scottish presence in Brussels will bring undoubted benefits to Scotland and Scottish business. It is vital that in the formulation of policy and regulations, distinctively Scottish interests and concerns are fed into the process."
The Scottish Tories said it must be clear that the office was an arm of the Scottish parliament to avoid confusion with UK bodies. "We broadly welcome this announcement, but we are somewhat sceptical about the precise role Scotland House will play," a Tory spokesman said. "We are reserving judgment until we see how it plays its role in areas such as agriculture and fisheries which, although they are devolved, will have crossovers with the rest of the United Kingdom."
Mr Dewar announced that Scotland House will open in Brussels on devolution day - 1 July this year.
In a speech to members of the European parliament, the Scottish Secretary said: "The office in Brussels will be working to promote Scotland's direct contacts and links with the EU institutions, not to replace them. It will support visiting ministers and officials and will provide facilities for them. A major part of its role will be to gather intelligence tailored to the executive need.
"The office will assist the executive in supporting the European responsibilities of the Scottish parliament. It will provide information to facilitate scrutiny of European legislation; it will assist visits to Brussels by parliamentary committees.
"It will help to raise awareness among Scottish European decision-makers of Scottish issues and perspectives; it will ensure that the Scottish dimension is fed in early as European proposals are being formulated. It will work to build Scottish links with other European regions and their member states.
"So the establishment of this office is only a start - the first manifestation of a devolved Scotland's commitment to Europe. I am confident that Scotland will become a more visible and more effective regional player on the European stage. "
The proposal will not be enough to satisfy the Scottish National Party, which has called for the appointment of a Scottish minister of external affairs with responsibility for European Union and international matters. The SNP's external affairs spokesman, George Reid, said: "A strong representative office of the Scottish executive in Brussels has been SNP policy for the past year, and it is good to see Labour now beginning to catch up.
"The SNP want the office to act as Scotland's eyes and ears in the EU, promoting Scottish interests such as fish, agriculture and industry at the earliest stage of decision-making.
"New Labour wants London as Scotland's gatekeeper. Lurking behind Mr Dewar's announcement is a Byzantine structure of inter-departmental concordats, lead committees and ad hoc agreements all intended to ensure that Scotland follows the Whitehall line."
Located in the heart of the European Union area of the city, the office in what has now been christened Scotland House is somewhat ironically based in refurbished premises previously used by the British embassy to the EU.
These will also provide accommodation for Scotland Europa, the subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise, which has been in the Belgian capital since 1992.
There will be a clear demarcation between the activities of the two organisations. But the advantage of being under the same tartan roof is that Scotland will be able to offer a one-stop shop and present a clear identity to the various European institutions.
Both features are considered essential if the country is to inject successfully the Scottish dimension into EU decision-making, and establish a strong presence in a city which already houses over 150 offices representing regions and subnational parliaments throughout the European Union.
Commenting on the move, First Minister Donald Dewar said: "The EU has important law and policy-making functions in the majority of the areas devolved to the Scottish Parliament. It is therefore essential to raise the profile of Scotland right at the heart of Europe. That is why our new office is opening for business in its new premises on the day that our Parliament opens."
Mr Dewar first raised the prospect of the Scottish Executive having its own representation in Brussels when he visited Strasbourg in February. He confirmed then that the office would be "working to promote Scotland's direct contacts and links with EU institutions, not replace them".
The office, run by Mr George Calder, a senior Scottish Executive civil servant, will have four main functions: to keep Ministers and officials abreast of developments in Brussels; to offer support and advice to the Scottish Executive on EU issues; to inform Brussels officials of the views of the Holyrood Parliament; and generally raise Scotland's profile in Europe.
An indication of the EU policy areas which are most likely to be of interest to the Scottish Executive can be seen from the specific responsibilities which have been given to Mr Calder's three main assistants. One will handle agricultural, fisheries and industrial matters, another is being given regional and social funding, research and development and education policies, while the third will be monitoring developments in environmental, transport and legal matters, ranging from police cooperation to court procedures.
Part of the executive's success will be determined by the extent to which it can develop profitable contacts and networks with similar offices from countries such as Germany and Spain which have their own powerful regional parliaments. Part will also depend on the clarity of the message Scotland will now deliver to the EU.
From today, there is no shortage of avenues for channelling Scottish views into the Brussels machine. The major one laid down in the devolution settlement will be through Whitehall and the UK's permanent representation to the EU. In addition to the Scottish Executive's EU office and Scotland Europa, there are also the country's eight MEPs, various local authorities and members of the advisory bodies the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee.
Scotland House and the executive office will have an important role to play in ensuring the different routes are not counterproductive. Its director, 51-year-old Edinburgh-born Mr Calder, is no stranger to Brussels and the European Union. After graduating with an English literature degree from Cambridge and a law degree from Edinburgh, he joined the Department of Employment in 1971. Three years later he was working as an advisor to Mr George Thomson, who, as one of Britain's first two European Commissioners, was in charge of regional policy. The three-year stint in Brussels was followed by spells in the Treasury and the Department of Employment before Mr Calder joined the Scottish Office in 1987.
He was soon brought back into contact with European affairs as head of the division handling regional and social funding and providing general coordination of EU issues. This period coincided with a major review of the Scottish Office's strategy for handling European matters and resulted in a more proactive approach involving practical and linguistic training for officials likely to be involved with EU issues.
In the early 90s, Mr Calder was head of personnel for five years and immediately before returning to Brussels last month was directly involved in dealing with the water industry in Scotland.
Although Scotland House will be open for business from today, with Scotland Europa planning to move in later this month, its formal opening by Mr Dewar will not be until the autumn. But it will welcome its first Scottish Executive Minister as early as next week when Jack McConnell comes to Brussels. - July 1 1999
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