EU should engage more directly with Scotland

SNP MEP and Party President Ian Hudghton has urged the European Commission to take every opportunity to directly engage with the SNP-led Scottish government to help meet important important challenges such as sustaining economic growth and tackling climate change. 

Mr Hudghton was speaking at a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on the Commission's work programme for 2011. 

The only Scots MEP to speak in the debate, Ian Hudghton argued that the Scottish government and European Commission share many common objectives, and that it made sense for the EU to engage with pro-European, progressive nationalist parties which are in government not only in Scotland, but in Catalonia, Flanders, Wales and elsewhere. 

Speaking in the European Parliament, Ian Hudghton MEP said: 

"The Commission in its work programme has some worthy priorities.  Sustaining economic growth; preserving and creating jobs; improving energy efficiency and developing renewable energy sources. 

"The SNP Scottish government, a pro-European Nationalist government shares these objectives and is making maximum use of its limited devolved powers and is achieving progress in addressing these and other challenges.  

"The European Free Alliance Group of MEPs which includes the SNP and other pro-European nationalists from Wales, Catalonia and Flanders are contributing to good government in our home countries.  Our ambition is to play a full part in EU decision making, taking our place as normal independent member states so that we can exercise the full range of governmental powers at home and work constructively together with a better Europe too."