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The Rt. Hon. Jack Mcconnell, First Minister of Scotland

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The Rt. Hon. Jack Mcconnell, First Minister of Scotland Rt. Hon JACK McCONNELL MSP FIRST MINISTER EU-ACP joint parliamentary assembly 23 November 1 Introduction Co-Presidents and Members of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly. Your Excellencies [or, “Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps]. Commissioner [Louis Michel, EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid]. Ladies and gentlemen. I’m very pleased to be with you all for this 10th African Caribbean Pacific – European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly and I am delighted that you chose to meet here in Scotland. I know that you have been here for several days, but I’d like to take the opportunity to formally welcome you to our country. I’m very pleased to see so many representatives of European, African, Caribbean and Pacific States – and Parliaments – here in Scotland. I want to take this opportunity to say how much I support this Assembly and the work that you do. This is a unique and special partnership between north and south. By coming together in this way, we are able to get new perspectives on problems and to help build a common understanding between Europe and our ACP partners. That dialogue is really important for all of us. And I’m very proud that Scotland was the location for the first ever meeting of this assembly. 20 years ago, just after the signing of the 3rd Lomé Convention, delegates gathered in Inverness to work together in the interests of all. And, I’m pleased that we have been able to provide the support for you to bring this Assembly back to Scotland once more. This was something that we really wanted to do. 2 The membership of both the ACP partnership and the European Union has really grown since then of course. And this Assembly has grown in stature and influence too. Over the years, you’ve really worked hard together to develop and strengthen the relationship between the EU and its ACP partners – and you’ve contributed to achieving the objectives of the Lomé Convention – and now the Cotonou agreement. You’ve worked hard to ensure that the ACP partners get a fair deal on trade. But, you’ve done more than that too. You’ve contributed to the fight against poverty and killer diseases like AIDS; you’ve promoted human rights, democracy and the vital role of women in development, you’ve worked to protect the environment and much more. You have made a significant contribution in 20 years - but there’s still more to be done. The full and ambitious programme you’ve set yourself this week is testament to that. You’ve already been debating a range of challenging issues - from coping with natural disasters to the Millennium Development Goals – that are without question some of the biggest challenges facing our world today. Modern Scotland While the Assembly has changed since it last came to Scotland – Scotland has changed radically too. This is a great time for the ACP-EU to be meeting in Scotland. It is a time of real progress for our country – a time of change and of economic, social and cultural renewal. 3 Of course, Scotland has strong traditions - and a history of achievement that we remain proud of. Our thinkers – such as Adam Smith, David Hume and Francis Hutcheson – were, after all, leaders in the Enlightenment that gave rise, ultimately, to the values that the democratic world still upholds. And Scotland helped create many of the things in the modern world: from penicillin to tarmac roads; from the pneumatic tyre to the electric light; and from television to the telephone. We celebrate these achievements wherever we can – but, we are by no means stuck in the past. The Scotland you are visiting this week has been has been renewed and revitalised by political change of the last six years. Six years ago, after almost three centuries of absence, our new Scottish Parliament was established – and, we in Scotland once again got responsibility for our own affairs. We have the best of both worlds. Legislative and administrative responsibility for domestic issues – whilst getting the benefits of being part of a big, powerful nation state. Devolution has brought government closer to the people of Scotland and, I believe, we have better government as a result. In education, in enterprise, in public health and in other areas too. Because of devolution, we have been able to make landmark decisions that will have a profound impact on our country and our people for years to come. In all aspects of Scottish life we are making a difference. 4 • From our action to ban smoking in public places and to protect the long-term health of our nation; • to the introduction of enterprise education in our schools; • through to boosting our population by welcoming Fresh Talent to live and work here. I like to think that, Scotland has once again got a spring in its step – and you can see a renewed purpose and energy wherever you look. In recent years, Scotland has give the world the MRI scanner and the automated bank teller – and, as we look forward, we hope to play our part in discovering cures for cancers. Scotland is now a major player in a number of exciting new industries – from biotechnology to life sciences. We are a leading European financial centre - home to two of the top 7 banks in Europe. And we have world class universities with a powerful research and technology base. And our ambitions for the future mean we will increasingly use our unique position within the UK to enhance our profile and develop our strengths. Europe This assembly is a good example of how the European Union can be a positive force in the world. I am passionate about the benefits of European partnership. Based on the premise that collaboration and co-operation is the most powerful way of working for the greater good, the EU is a place where we can come together to address the issues that matter to us all. 5 Together we have enhanced our ability to tackle the threats posed crime and terrorism. We have created a cleaner environment. We have improved health and consumer protection. Scotland has benefited a great deal through the UK’s membership of the EU over the last three decades. Of course, the workings of an institution representing 25 nation states can be frustrating at times. Finding a consensus amongst such diversity represents a challenge. But as has been said before, how much better to endure a tedious committee meeting than the war which ravaged our continent in every generation before. That's why the EU can be a model for relations between nations. Now, as it faces the 21st century, it needs to reform further - to give place to the nations and peoples within it who do not have a nation state of their own. To strike a balance between common standards and flexibility across cultures and climate zones. And to take seriously its responsibilities to the global community, which is why I throw my weight behind the calls to reform agricultural subsidy and take down trade barriers which disadvantage the world's poor. And, today, we are determined to be as fully involved as we can be. That’s why, Scotland is actively involved in REGLEG, a powerful network of super regions and ancient nations– and it’s why Scottish Ministers participate in the Council of Ministers. International development 6 Devolution is giving Scotland a platform from which, not only can we make our mark again in Europe – but we can raise our international profile more widely too. Our devolved government has been working hard to promote modern Scotland across the world. We are working to attract more visitors and increase tourism; encourage business links in North America, Europe and the Far East and promote Scottish goods and services throughout the world. However, we know that there is more for us to achieve than merely establishing business and economic links with other rich countries. Scotland’s increasingly significant international profile means that we also have responsibilities – and these are in addition to the international development responsibilities of the UK government. Of course, poverty in the developing world has long been a concern of the ACP- EU, and it has informed many of your own debates over the years. In July, G8 Scotland focused all our minds on the actions the developing world must take to help those who don’t have so much. We were proud that the G8 leaders came to Scotland to discuss those issues, and it has certainly strengthened our own resolve to do our bit to make poverty history. The decisions taken at G8 Scotland will go some way to providing better aid, less unsustainable debt and better and fairer trade. Scotland endorses those decisions as a minimum, and we will give our full support to the developed world’s broader effort to provide help in developing countries. And we now look to the WTO – and the talks of the member states to take a lead in breaking down the barriers to trade the developing word face. 7 Africa Africa is by no means the only place in the world that needs support from the international community - but no-one could deny that Africa is the foremost development challenge facing the international community today. It is the only continent in the world where human development is in steady decline. The gap between rich and poor is an injustice that we in Scotland are determined to do our bit to help set right. We believe, that even a small country like ours, should stand in solidarity with others.
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