MSP BACKS THE BORDERS - EU TREATY REFORM
September 19, 2007 12:00 AM
Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland and Shadow Environment Minister, today spoke up for fisheries and the fight against climate change in the debate on the EU Treaty.
Jim Hume said:-
"The Reform Treaty has agreements on climate change and the fight against global warming, which have been added as targets for the European Union.
"So from an environmental point of view alone, membership of the EU is therefore of vital importance to the protection of our environment.
"If we expect Europe to take a leading role on climate change, then we must make progress in reforming its policies and institutions.
"By streamlining the Commission we're allowing more effective decision making in the Council and ensuring that democratic accountability is transformed. This is not about allowing the European Parliament a more substantial role, but rather, it's about giving all Parliaments a greater say.
"The Scottish Government wants Scotland to have independent membership of the EU. If Scotland became independent and the Union was split, it would have to re-apply to become an EU member.
"At the same time the French have decided to hold a nationwide referendum before any new members are allowed into the EU - putting an independent Scotland's membership in the hands of the French people. I do not think that's what the people of Scotland want.
The MSP continued:-
"I took the opportunity in particular to ask the Minister about fisheries given his party's commitment on paper to representing the fishing sector in Europe.
"In the SNP manifesto it said that the failure of successive governments to adequately represent or protect the interests of our fishing industry is one of the biggest failings of the current constitutional settlement. I do not stand alone when I say that fisheries dependent area status for Eyemouth and the Berwickshire coast line would be one very large step towards affirming the SNP's real commitment to the fishing industry in my part of the world.
"And what about the Minister's ten point plan for fishing which he advocated just nine months ago?
"Will he attend as his MEP colleague called for, every single European Council Meeting?
"There are many unanswered questions about fisheries, not the least of which is the uncertainty over the Common Fisheries Policy."
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