Members' Letter

EU/S4/15/8/A

EUROPEAN AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

AGENDA

8th Meeting, 2015 (Session 4)

Thursday 14 May 2015

The Committee will meet at 9.00 am in the Robert Burns Room (CR1).

1. Scottish Government International Framework: The Committee will take evidence from—

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Colin Imrie, Deputy Director, Head of European Relations, and Ian Donaldson, Deputy Director, International Division, Scottish Government.

2. Connecting Scotland: The Committee will take evidence, in a round-table discussion, from—

Elaine Ballantyne, Head of External Relations and Investor Support, Economic Development, the City of Edinburgh Council;

Anil Gupta, Chief Officer - Communities, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA);

Malcolm Leitch, European Officer, West of Scotland European Forum (WOSEF);

Joanne Scobie, EU Officer Policy and Partnerships, East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC);

Gillian Walsh, International Officer, Glasgow City Council.

3. Annual report: The Committee will consider a draft annual report for the parliamentary year from 11 May 2014 to 10 May 2015.

4. Brussels Bulletin: The Committee will consider the latest issue of the Brussels Bulletin.

EU/S4/15/8/A

Katy Orr Clerk to the European and External Relations Committee Room Tower 1 T3.60 The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh Tel: 0131 348 5234 Email: [email protected]

The papers for this meeting are as follows—

Agenda item 1

PRIVATE PAPER EU/S4/15/8/1 (P)

Scotland’s International Framework

Scotland’s Action Plan for EU Engagement

Agenda item 2

PRIVATE PAPER EU/S4/15/8/2 (P)

Written evidence EU/S4/15/8/3

Agenda item 3

Annual Report EU/S4/15/8/4

Agenda item 4

Brussels Bulletin EU/S4/15/8/5

EU/S4/15/8/3

European and External Relations Committee 8th Meeting, 2015 (Session 4), Thursday 14 May 2015

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

1. The aim of today’s Connecting Scotland inquiry (strand 2) is to take evidence from local authorities on how they engage internationally.

2. The local authorities and organisations listed below will be giving oral evidence in a roundtable format, and their written evidence is attached in Annexe A.

 The City of Edinburgh Council  COSLA  East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC)  Glasgow City Council, Lord Provost’s and International Office  West of Scotland European Forum (WOSEF)

3. ESEC has included separate submissions from Aberdeen City Council and Fife Council as the information from those councils was relatively extensive.

4. In addition, South of Scotland Alliance (SoSA) and the Highlands and Islands Council, which were unable to attend the Committee meeting, have provided written evidence (also attached at Annexe A).

5. Annexe B contains written evidence from Scottish local authorities and organisations representing local authorities which responded to the Committee’s call for evidence for strand 2 of the Connecting Scotland inquiry. These are as follows:

 Aberdeen City Council  Angus Council  Argyle and Bute Council  East Lothian Council  Glasgow City Council, Education Services  North Ayrshire Council  Outer Hebrides Leader Local Action Group

Jenny Goldsmith Assistant Clerk

ANNEXE A

Connecting Scotland: how Scottish organisations engage internationally

The City of Edinburgh Council

Questions

What international activities are happening now in your sector and/or organisation? Please describe how and why these activities take place. Are other sectors or organisations involved? What do these activities contribute or achieve?

The City of Edinburgh Council is involved in a very wide range of international activities which support the development of the city through international best practice and profiling, economic and cultural diplomacy; and which reflect the role of a capital city which has a strong consular base, increasing international connectivity and visitors, and is engaged extensively with international delegations and events.

Many international projects involve a range of partners both overseas and within the city. Spheres of activity include schools, higher education, libraries, festivals, cultural and heritage associations, the business community and professional associations, inward investors, the Consular Corps and international institutions. A wide range of service areas within the Council access and share international best practice through EU and other funded projects.

Some current examples are given below.

Edinburgh has very strong links with China, many of them having evolved over a very long period of time. A niche opportunity has been identified for Edinburgh to harness specific benefits for the creative and tech sectors by the creation of soft landing / incubation space with one of the first cities of innovation in China, Shenzhen. From the outset Edinburgh has worked with the Scottish Government on this project within the context of the Scotland China Plan. The Memorandum of Understanding between Edinburgh and Shenzhen was witnessed at Ministerial level and support continues via the office of the First Secretary, Scottish Affairs, in Beijing.

In embarking on this project, The City of Edinburgh Council recognises the importance of long term planning, detailed research and understanding, and the added value of all levels of government working together. We began by arranging a secondment from the Shenzhen government into our Edinburgh External Relations / Investor Support teams to secure early and thorough understanding of each other’s creative and tech sectors. While the project is still at developmental stage, much progress has been made and the Edinburgh Creative Exchange incubation space will open in Shenzhen in May, while the Shenzhen equivalent will be hosted in Edinburgh from September. This is not Edinburgh’s only project with China; we continue to work on a number of international engagements with further Chinese cities.

The cities of Edinburgh and Florence celebrate their 50th year of twinning in 2015. This anniversary year is being used as a platform to build further connections for the future in areas such as the profiling and celebration of local food, film and literature,

1 engaging the public and using existing events and connections across the cities. A multimedia event took place in Edinburgh in March 2015 with a range of partners: the Italian Consulate, the Italian Cultural Institute, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh City of Literature Office, Florence City Council UNESCO office, Edinburgh College of Art, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Talbot Rice Gallery. This project saw the launch of a collection of the work of celebrated Italian war poet Ungaretti, alongside contemporary translations and Scottish cultural responses, including poetry, visual art, animation, music and sculpture. The project highlighted the value of transnational relationships and the opportunity for learning and sharing in the difficult subject of war. The project also emphasised the importance of language and the expression of self alongside the value of literature and cultural heritage – a strategic interest for both historic cities. The project additionally drew on both cities’ strengths as members of the UNESCO Creative Cities network. The project will be replicated in Florence in June.

A wide range of projects are ongoing with twin city Munich, a relationship which is 60 years old. Using the EU Funded LEONARDO vocational exchange for professionals, placements have taken place between the Economic Development team within both cities. One such placement included discussions with Bio M, the cluster of Munich based life science companies. Munich is home to Germany’s largest grouping of life science companies. A visit was subsequently arranged for companies and researchers from Munich to visit Edinburgh’s BioQuarter followed by a return visit by Edinburgh based researchers. These visits were focussed on the development of research and business collaborations. Interest in Edinburgh at a Bavarian level remains strong, while Munich represents a strong festivals market for Edinburgh and is well served by the direct air link. There are excellent relations with the Consulates in both cities.

Since 1995, Edinburgh has co-operated closely with the Polish city of Krakow via a Partnership Agreement based on the areas of architecture and design, planning, culture and education. The Partnership Agreement has been extended and re-signed mainly on a five year basis since then and has grown to include additional areas of interest. The Partnership Agreement was last renewed in 2014 for a further five years to 2019. The Edinburgh – Krakow cooperation has the support of the Polish Consul General in Edinburgh as well as the Polish Cultural Festival, The Polish- Scottish Heritage project, the Edinburgh UNESCO World Heritage Office and the Scottish-Polish Society in Edinburgh. Further areas of shared interest include urban planning and development in World Heritage areas, including the maintenance of traditional setted streets (cobble stones), community engagement and placemaking. In 2015 there will be two joint workshops with exchange visits between the cities for experts to consider case studies. The incoming Edinburgh visit was designed to fit alongside the World Heritage Day events being organised by Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) Trust and Historic Scotland. The Council’s partnership with EWH has informed the strategic content of these workshops. With the support of City of Edinburgh Council and the Municipality of Krakow the Scottish Polish Cultural Society in presented a photography exhibition in 2014. The exhibition (“City Lights”) was displayed in both Edinburgh and in Krakow between September and October, alongside a programme of cultural offerings which

2 celebrated the similarities between the two cities. This exhibition received wide public support in Edinburgh, particularly from its substantial Polish migrant community. Edinburgh is the founding city of UNESCO’s Creative City Network and with the support of the City of Edinburgh Council, the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust has been instrumental in the development of the network to 11 designated cities. In 2013 Krakow was the 7th city to join the network. The Edinburgh City of Literature Trust is also working to support bids from new cities including Barcelona (Spain), Baghdad (Iraq), Kampala (Uganda) and others, placing Edinburgh at the heart of this growing network. Since the network’s formation in 2004, the Trust has developed a range of projects, linking organisations and individuals across Edinburgh with other Cities of Literature; most recently a showcase of Krakow writers at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2014 and a showcase of Edinburgh writers in Krakow in October 2014, and under development, a new digital TV channel for the Cities of Literature network, led by Edinburgh. This work positions Edinburgh as an innovative, world- leading literary capital, promoting our literary excellence to the world, supporting literary tourism for the capital, and providing opportunities for organisations and individuals in Edinburgh.

Do you think your sector and/ or organisation is effective in participating in international activities? If not, what would help you to make improvements? What prevents you from making improvements now?

As a local authority we maintain a strong international outlook; fostering many international events and projects and a number of mutually beneficial relationships. While much of this has been managed historically through arrangements such as twin and partner cities, the focus today is on effective relationship management, and partnerships and resource sharing for the development and delivery of projects. Effective areas include drawing international talent, supporting flight route development / connectivity, sustaining and delivering investment and profile in economic and cultural spheres, profiling the city and publicising / reaching out for good practice internationally. Local authorities have limited resources to participate in international activities and thus rely on in-kind staff time, the support of other organisations and EU and other funding opportunities where available. The City of Edinburgh Council has been a member of the European network for Cities, EUROCITIES, since the early 1990s – this enables matches between city strategies and helps maximise funding potential for projects. The Open Innovation project, led by Edinburgh, is one of the largest funded under the Interreg North West Europe programme.

What should organisations in Scotland do to be effective internationally? Are you aware of any good examples of this from Scotland or another country? It is important to build on those assets and contacts which are of international interest, identify niche opportunities which create distinct benefits and take a project- led approach to ensure delivery. Building early engagement and understanding takes considerable time and relationship management. When governmental bodies work together strategically from an early point in international initiatives, the maximisation of resources and contacts can be very effective indeed.

The advantage that a city / local authority has in terms of international relationship management is that the Council is focused on the delivery of practical projects at ‘on the ground’ level and the pooling of goodwill and resources both locally and by the global partner for the long term or for fixed periods of activity. Greater recognition by the Scottish Government, Scottish Development International and Visit Scotland of the contribution which the major cities / local authorities working with their global partners can add – or bring as a lead player with certain geographies – would significantly enhance the delivery of Scotland’s Economic Strategy and Scotland’s International Framework. Consideration should be given to the role of cities / local authorities in helping to drive and facilitate shared and more specific international ambitions by properly resourcing a number of key initiatives. The City of Edinburgh Council would be pleased to work on a pilot basis with the national agencies and other lead authorities to demonstrate the value of such an approach.

Elaine Ballantyne Head of External Relations and Investor Support

April 2015

Connecting Scotland - how Scottish organisations engage internationally

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) is the representative voice of Scottish Local Authorities at a Scottish, UK and international levels. COSLA is pleased to provide supplementary evidence to this second strand of this inquiry. In the first strand on “How the Scottish Government engages internationally” we commented on our agreed views on the big political issues and the way EU policy concerning councils is shaped in Brussels and domestically. In this additional evidence for this second strand we focus on the more operational aspects of COSLA EU engagement.

Our focus is on European Union or international provisions that specifically affect Scottish Councils’ ability to define and provide public services by promoting subsidiarity and partnership working across all levels of governance. In so doing our EU policy priorities are structured around the key principles defined by the COSLA Constitution: the empowerment of local democracy; integration rather than centralisation; outcomes rather than inputs; and the protection of local choice and accountability. In March 2015 COSLA Convention approved our latest international priorities as shared with this Committee recently.

Very often issues specifically or disproportionately affecting Local Authorities both in legal and financial terms are overlooked in the big picture of Member State priorities and the consequential negotiations in Brussels. COSLA’s specific role is to ensure that this does not happen so that Scottish Local Government can make a constructive contribution to European governance.

Political representation: COSLA nominates and supports the local members representing Scotland at the EU Committee of the Regions: Cllr Corrie McChord, Scotland’s longstanding CoR member sits on the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) Commission, Cllr Tony Buchanan is the Vice President of the Natural Resources (NAT) Commission dealing with rural, marine, tourism and consumer protection, Cllr Barbara Grant is a member of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) and our newest member Cllr Gary Robinson is member of the Territorial Cohesion Policy (COTER) Commission dealing with Structural Funds and Transport. In addition to participating and amending draft reports Scottish CoR members have in the past been Rapporteurs, leading CoR Opinions on draft EU legislation such as Soil, Innovation Union or EU funding for local areas - Community Led Local Development.

COSLA nominates and supports the local members of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (Cllrs Harry McGuigan and Mairi Evans) and its Governance Committee. Cllr McGuigan has recently led, with officer support from COSLA and the Improvement Service, a review of local governance changes across most European countries (shared services, centralisation, performance management, community planning). COSLA have also significantly contributed to the official Council of Europe monitoring report on the application in the UK and Scotland of the Charter of Local Self Government to which the UK is a signatory. There is an outstanding need for the report’s recommendations to be acted on through the transposition of the Charter’s provisions into UK and Scots law.

COSLA is the Scottish national member of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Europe’s largest and oldest association of European municipalities. Cllr Mairi Evans is a member of its Executive Bureau and Chair of the Committee on Young Local and Regional Elected Representatives.

COSLA is also working on further engagement opportunities at an EU level, including through the Scottish Locally-Engaged European Representatives (SLEER) Group to which all councillors having an EU role or mandate are invited to attend.

Policy development: COSLA’s Brussels-based EU office shares joint responsibility for managing our priority EU policy development and legislative processes from their inception through political endorsement up to the point of transposition into UK or Scottish Law. Our EU policy priorities have been previously politically agreed and broadly follow the Commission’s Legislative Work Programme. Policy development relies on working across several COSLA teams and with contact officers across the Member Councils, European Consortia and officer professional groups. The EU function reports to the Chief Officer - Communities and politically to the different COSLA Executive Groups, Leaders and Convention.

The extended timeframes for EU policy development and legislation allow timely negotiation to be undertaken with the Scottish or UK Governments as appropriate. This helps inform the Scottish and UK negotiating positions. The same applies to the overall EU priorities. This year the UK Government explicitly cited COSLA’s priorities as part of the UK negotiating for 2015.

At the broad EU level, policy development and negotiation with Commission officials or MEPs is most commonly done in partnership with our sister national associations of Local Authorities from other countries as well as with our European association - the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR). COSLA shares premises with many of our opposite numbers in the House of Municipalities in Brussels which facilitates policy development, intelligence sharing and logistic pooling. Our European umbrella body CEMR as well as other major European local authority networks are also based in the House of Municipalities.

COSLA chairs the CEMR Expert Group on Territorial Cohesion and Local Development bringing together experts on Structural Funds and rural development across the EU. This involves speaking on behalf of European local government in a number of committees and working groups organised by the European Commission. COSLA also plays a significant role in other CEMR groups in particular the Employers’ Platform where we developed the CEMR position on the Working Time Directive as well as the groups dealing Better Regulation, Waste and Procurement. Through the CEMR delegation COSLA also sits in the European Social Dialogue which an official EU forum is bringing together local government employers, public sector trade unions and the European Commission.

In addition to formulating submissions to EU consultations or suggesting changes to draft EU legislation COSLA also regularly gives evidence on these issues at hearings at the Scottish, Westminster and European Parliaments. Indeed we provide specific briefings to Scottish MEPs on all key priority matters relevant for Scottish Councils being dealt in their specific committees.

Partnership working is also undertaken with civil servants of the UK and Scottish Governments based in Brussels as well as the other Scottish and UK public sector organisations represented there. Similarly, COSLA also engages with other key stakeholders to provide a local government perspective to wider policy discussions, for instance in networks dealing with local sustainability and climate action or health inequalities, and occasionally EU think tanks.

Further engagement Finally although the role of the EU function is -like the rest of COSLA- focused on policy and legislation we try to support our member councils as they engage in EU project development and facilitation, given our location in Brussels and the multi-lingual nature of the staff. We are also the official Scottish coordinators on town twinning and of the EU Covenant of Mayors. COSLA also communicates local government views widely via twitter, press releases for both Scottish and EU media and regular policy updates to senior elected members.

Equally we facilitate visits of officer and delegations to Brussels as well as facilitating delegations visits to Scotland. Recently these have included the Finnish, Norwegian, Danish or Icelandic delegations. Often a result of these visits is to allow us to draw useful ideas for policy development – indeed we drew heavily from the suggestions from our peers to formulate submissions to the Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy in Scotland, the Smith Commission and the new Commission on Local Finances.

Serafin Pazos-Vidal, Head of Brussels Office

April 2015

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT EUROPEAN AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Connecting Scotland Inquiry How Scottish organisations engage internationally

Evidence submitted by the East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC) April 2015

ABOUT ESEC

The East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC) was established in 1992 to represent the European interests of local authorities in Eastern Scotland. We have membership of 8 Local Authorities within this area (Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, and Stirling) who collaborate on a shared European agenda. With a population of just over 2.34 million (46% of Scotland’s total) the East of Scotland is an area of contrasting industrial, rural and urban landscapes with significant North Sea coastline.

ESEC aims to:

 Influence, where directly relevant, the development of emerging European policy and legislation as it affects Eastern Scotland;  Maximise European Union financial assistance;  Foster cooperation between local authorities in Eastern Scotland and to provide a framework for the promotion of appropriate geographic and sectoral groupings; and,  Develop links with similar regional groupings within Scotland, the United Kingdom and other European Member States and develop Eastern Scotland corporate representation on appropriate bodies.

ESEC is chaired by Councillor Mairi Evans (Angus Council), with Councillor Alison Evison (Aberdeenshire Council) serving as Vice-Chair. Angus Council will serve as the host authority until 2017.

ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL

Twinning Aberdeen Twinning Aberdeen maintains and develops the relationships with Aberdeen's twin cities and international partnerships. These projects are based on cultural, educational, social and economic exchanges. Twin cities participate in Aberdeen's Events, giving these occasions an international dimension, increasing awareness of Aberdeen's strong international links and providing locals and visitors the opportunity to see a different culture.

International Twinning Grant The International Twinning Budget is grant money to help support Aberdeen City groups or organisations in twin city projects and exchanges. The money for the International Twinning Budget comes from the Common Good Fund. Grants of up to £7,000 are available and applications can be submitted throughout the year.

Project Examples:

Europe for Citizens Aberdeen City Council has successfully applied for EU funding from the Europe for Citizens Programme twice within the previous two years. The first project was for a three day conference titled ‘The Impact of the Great War on Aberdeen and her Twin Cities’. Delegates were from Clermont-Ferrand, Regensburg and Gomel and comprised of upper secondary school pupils and visiting speakers. Local and international speakers presented on the impact WWI had on various sections of their community, such as propaganda art in Russia and healthcare in the UK, at a free public event which attracted an audience of over 150 people.

Twinning Aberdeen also successfully applied for funding for a project that will take place in Autumn 2015. ‘Cultural Connections’ is a cultural networking event designed to create dialogue between cultural organisations in Aberdeen, Clermont-Ferrand and Regensburg which will increase future projects and partnerships between the cities. Delegates from all three cities will present on projects in their cities to a public audience and a networking event will take place to provide an opportunity for delegates to meet and discuss ideas for future collaborative work.

Aberdeen Festivals The International Twinning Grant has also supported the participation of groups from cities at key festivals in Aberdeen which enhances the city’s cultural calendar: Sound Festival created an innovative partnership with Musiquee Démesurées in Clermont-Ferrand which resulted in the world premiere of a new work in Aberdeen; Aberdeen International Youth Festival successfully applied for support for a group from Bulawayo; a band from Clermont- Ferrand performed at the Aberdeen Jazz Festival; and the Twinning & International Partnerships Officer arranged for delegates from partner organisations in Stavanger and Regensburg to visit TechFest and DanceLive to see the vibrancy of these events in Aberdeen and discuss future collaborative projects. Young Norwegians will participate in TechFest’s 2015 programme and collaborate with local young people through a Heroes of Tomorrow programme; and young dancers from Aberdeen and Regensburg will collaborate and perform in public performances in both cities during summer 2015 as part of 60th twinning anniversary celebrations.

Cultural Projects The Write Aberdeen-Write Regensburg project was launched in May 2014. Citizens of both cities were invited to submit short written works inspired by their city. The project was supported with free writing workshops at Seventeen by esteemed local writers, such as Professor Alan Spence. The selected works are being translated into Doric and Bavarian and will be launched in a new publication at the University of Aberdeen’s 2015 May Festival.

Court Metrage in Clermont-Ferrand is one of the world’s largest short film festivals. Groups and individuals from Aberdeen have been involved with projects with the festival in recent years: A Creative Learning Officer created a project for local primary schools to work with a director to create their own short films to be submitted at the festival and distributed to local primary schools in the French town to initiate future partnerships; the University of Aberdeen’s Film Studies Department has been to the festival and the Festival Director will present at the Director’s Cut series in September 2015; a selection of shorts from Court Metrage was exhibited at the local independent cinema at a free public event.

School partnerships At the beginning of 2014-15 two active school exchanges existed between schools in Aberdeen and twin cities. Manor Park Primary School and Kincorth Academy continued their exchanges with schools in Clermont-Ferrand and Gomel with pupils from Aberdeen visiting the twin cities. Staff and pupils from Kincorth Academy also began a new exchange with Albertus Magnus Gymnasium in Regensburg. A delegation of teachers from Von Mueller Gymnasium visited Aberdeen in February with the aim of establishing new educational partnerships. Teaching staff from Harlaw Academy are planning a reciprocal visit in June 2015 to further develop the partnership. Pupils from Seaton Primary School are also in correspondence with pupils from Von Mueller Gymnasium to prepare them for visiting Regensburg this summer. Several primary schools in Aberdeen have made contact with primary schools in Clermont-Ferrand in preparation for an interactive music exchange project in June. Aberdeen Music School has also made contact with a music school in Stavanger and are in discussions to develop future projects. Furthermore, discussions are currently taking place between the University of Aberdeen’s Education Department and ESPE Blaise Pascal regarding the provision of a partnership which will support primary education students in the teaching of modern languages within schools.

(For more detailed information on Aberdeen’s international activity, please see Aberdeen City Council’s separately submitted written evidence).

ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL

Aberdeenshire Council does not directly engage in twinning activity, but a number of our towns and communities do have their own links and partnerships.

Communities have participated in cultural exchanges through the Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER programme, with a notable project undertaken between Huntly and Finland. The project enabled a group of delegates from Huntly to travel to Juankoski in Finland to discuss the potential for collaborative projects. Both regions are working individually on a number of rural community projects and wanted to learn from each other’s experiences. The visit resulted in a determination to work together on a number of initiatives at local level in each community exchanging skills and knowledge from both sides. For example, the Finns were very impressed with Scotland’s pride in its traditional music culture and are interested in developing a programme and in 2013, young local musicians and dancers from the area performed alongside heavy metal Finnish rock bands as part of the innovative “Rising Youth Bands” project, during the first international programme of the YesCommAct transnational LEADER funded project. In addition to collaborating on the music front the project is focusing on developing traditional building skills and includes visits to rural and forestry development projects.

Most of Aberdeenshire Council’s engagement is for policy influencing and learning. International networks include membership of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), the North Sea Commission (NSC) and KIMO (the Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation) with both Elected Member and Officer participating. Aberdeenshire Council’s main thematic interests in these networks are marine resources, transport, tourism, economic development, energy, sustainable development and regional policy.

These networks provide an opportunity for the Council to learn about international approaches to policy challenges from other members of the partnerships, develop and

participate in joint projects to learn, develop and apply new policy approaches and influence European policies through lobbying.

Aberdeenshire Council also engages in a number of INTERREG projects which provide opportunities for international learning. One such initiative is the Cruise Gateway project, which was developed alongside partners from Germany, Norway, Denmark and Belgium. The objective of Cruise Gateway is to start the development of the North Sea programme as a cruise destination in its own right by opening up the accessibility of local ports currently not featured in cruise itineraries while promoting the region as a leading example of a sustainable cruise industry.

ANGUS COUNCIL

The Angus International Framework was adopted in December 2013 to consolidate council wide international activity into a Framework with an associated action plan to ensure that activity across the council was coordinated, focused and linked to council priorities. In its objective to work, grow, support and sustain the local economy, international markets and international profile are essential. For Angus and Scotland, international engagement is a key component to secure our common future. Jobs, prosperity and quality of life will all be enhanced by collective efforts to engage with the wider world.

At the EU level, since its establishment Angus Council has successfully engaged with the European agenda for the benefit of individuals, communities and local businesses. European funding has been used to lever in other funds to the area and helped to deliver a diverse range of projects, from large-scale tourism infrastructure such as developments at Arbroath Harbour, SME business support and infrastructure development such as Brechin Business Park, to employment and training initiatives that support the most disadvantaged people in our communities.

Twinning activity Forfar in Angus has been twinned with Chabanais in France since 1993 and to celebrate the recent 20th anniversary, a delegation from Forfar visited the French town. During the visit, the visitors from Angus were presented with a plaque to commemorate the occasion and a tree was planted in the garden of the town hall.

The relationship between Forfar and Chabanais and the long-standing series of reciprocal visits is an opportunity to share examples of traditional food and drink, sports and dance, and brings many benefits to people of both communities.

EU project examples Angus was lead partner of a 3 year ERDF project Rural Tourism Business Support supporting SMEs across the east of Scotland in the key sectors of golf, food and drink, outdoor tourism and heritage and is a partner in the ERDF funded East Coast Renewables project. Under this project Angus organised a learning journey to the world Sustainable Energy Days Conference in Wels Austria and took a number of companies

Angus Council was the lead partner for the Rural Tayside LEADER Programme 2007-13 delivering a £2.8 m programme and is the lead partner for new Angus LEADER Programme 2014-2020.

Looking ahead, Angus Council is involved in a number of transnational funding bids in the new 2014-2010 programmes, particularly to support objectives in the fields of social innovation, schools and learning and agri-food and civil society.

(For more detailed information, please Angus Council’s separately submitted written evidence).

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

Twinning activity Dundee’s first twinning link is almost 70 years old, forged when Dundee was twinned with Orléans in France. Links with Würzburg in Germany, Alexanderia in the USA, Nablus in Palestine, and Zadar in Croatia followed. Twinning is an important aspect of Dundee’s international activity, and the aim is to promote the fostering of friendship and understanding between the areas and to encourage visits by individuals and groups between the cities, developing personal contacts thus broadening understanding of cultural, educational, recreational and commercial activities between the cities. Dundee’s Lord Provost, Bob Duncan, said of the initiative “Dundee prides itself on being a cultural city and twinning reinforces that. It is promoted in our schools and we help to arrange exchange trips for pupils. It is always a pleasure to welcome visitors from our twin cities and I extend an open invitation for them to discover Dundee.”

Dundee-Alexandria The Dundee-Alexandria twinning association was launched in 1993, and since then members have taken part in many exchange activities, including the schools, music groups, sports clubs and most recently the rugby clubs of both cities. In the intervening years numerous visitors from Alexandria have travelled to Dundee and while there they have also enjoyed visiting local places of interest and other parts of Scotland. The major event of the year in Alexandria is the Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend which takes place in December and is an event designed to mark the City's Scottish ancestry.

Dundee- Orléans After D-Day it was proposed that Scottish towns and cities "adopt" newly liberated French towns and cities, and so Dundee "adopted" Orléans. Since 1948 Dundee has been represented at the famous Joan of Arc Festivities which take place each year in Orléans on May 8th and every post-war Lord Provost has visited Dundee’s oldest twin. In 1996 Evelyn Hood, who has been involved with the link since 1951, was made a Citoyen d'Honneur de la Ville d'Orléans. Since 1946 Dundonians and Orléans have exchanged thousands of visits including civic exchanges, school children, golfers, members of the various professions, Planning Departments personnel, broadcasters, choral societies, rugby teams, cycle teams, university and college students, teachers, doctors and nurses, and amateur artists. The towns will celebrate the 70th anniversary in 2016.

EU project examples

INTERREG IV InCompass The creative industries are a key growth sector in the city and the potential to support economic sustainability in the sector encouraged Dundee City Council to participate in an INTERREG IVC project led by Dundee & Angus College. The InCompass Project sought to develop policy solutions to support the self-sustainability of creative incubator units and enable them to develop and share innovative methods to move away from a general dependence on public funding. The partnership consisted of 14 partners in 11 countries across Europe and in undertaking a range of study visits and workshops the city was able to

develop a new action plan to support the creative industries sector. For more information please see here.

URBACT City Logo URBACT III funded the CityLogo project from 2013 to 2015. Dundee City Council participated in this project which created a network on innovative place-brand management, to support the integration of city-branding into broader and participatory processes of re-thinking of urban identities and to engage stakeholders more effectively. The project engaged 10 cities from across Europe and enabled Dundee to create a new and supportive network of cities with similar ambitions, to learn from best practice and to develop a new approach to city branding. For more information please see here.

Intelligent Energy Europe – ENCLOSE Project Dundee City Council’s Transportation Team participated in the Intelligent Energy Europe funded ENCLOSE project from May 2012 to December 2014 as a follower city. The project brought together 9 cities from across Europe to work together to develop solutions to urban freight logistics such as urban consolidation centres, optimised urban freight transport and delivery plans, clean vehicles, last mile logistics and the overall management of urban mobility. Dundee was able to create a Sustainable Urban Logistics Plan as a result of participation and is also looking at wider engagement in an Horizon 2020 project as a result of our involvement in ENCLOSE.

Other international activities

Dundee: UNESCO City of Design In 2014 Dundee achieved UNESCO City of Design status, the first UNESCO City of Design in the UK and one of 15 globally. Building upon Dundee’s history of creativity and innovation, which has seen the city reinventing itself on numerous occasions and our ambition to use design to drive urban regeneration and growth, from the V&A Museum of Design Dundee to using the power of design to engage and develop our citizens and communities. Membership of the UNESCO Creative Cities network will enable us to share experience, knowledge and resources with like-minded cities to promote the value of design and creative industries and to foster world-wide cooperation for sustainable regeneration and development, offering the perspective of an average sized world city to the network. Other design members include: Buenos Aires, St-Etienne, Berlin, Seoul, Nagoya, Montreal, Helsinki, Turin, Bilbao and Beijing. For more information please see here.

Study visits Dundee regularly hosts study visits from other cities across Europe. Last November saw the University of Abertay and Dundee City Council hosting colleagues from Orebro in Sweden who were looking at the social innovation agenda, the outcome of which is a bid to Horizon 2020, and this month, the City Council hosted guests from Berlin who were looking at sustainable urban mobility.

FALKIRK COUNCIL

Since its establishment in 1996, Falkirk Council has successfully engaged with the European agenda. European funding has been used to lever in additional monies to the area and

helped to deliver a diverse range of initiatives, from large-scale tourism infrastructure projects, local business development and growth, to employment and training programmes that support the most disadvantaged people in our communities. Engagement with EU partners has also helped to develop and promote town-twinning, provide additional learning and exchange opportunities for both young people and adult learners and enabled the exchange of best practice between teaching professionals. These are aspects the Council wishes to continue and build upon.

Twinning examples Falkirk Council area has 2 twinning partners: Creteil, a large cosmopolitan town south of Paris and the Odenwald, a rural region in South West Germany. The Falkirk District Twinning Association and The Odenwald Association promote twinning with these areas. Twinning activity helps to promote a greater understanding of cultures between different areas within the EU and helps support exchange of ideas and best practice that will have a positive impact for the Council area. Successful exchanges have taken place with our twinning partners and we would envisage this activity to continue in the future, particularly as future funding programmes are placing greater emphasis on partnership working.

European funding Falkirk Council has been the lead applicant in 46 projects during the programme from 2000 to the present day. During this time additional funding accessed through the European Social Fund (ESF) has assisted 580 unemployed people who are the most disadvantaged in the labour market to access employment and training support. A further 180 young people will be supported into employment through targeted interventions and gain a vocational qualification. Falkirk also participated extensively in the last LEADER programme, which developed and managed several projects in the Falkirk area, and will engage with the new LEADER programme, taking the accountable body role for the first time. Falkirk will also be involved in delivering its part of the Business Gateway-related Structural Fund 2014-2020 intervention for Scotland.

Project examples

Education exchange with Sweden and Norway Kinnaird Primary School participated in a project with schools in Sweden and Norway, funded by the European Union’s Comenius programme. Pupils took part in a TV programme called “TV Europa”, showcasing key features of each country’s culture. The use of ICT has enabled the three schools to regularly share work. A core part of the programme is visits to partner schools and the partnership involved three planning meetings, one held in each school, giving all staff a chance to engage with their counterparts from their partner schools.

Interreg Young SMEs Project SMEs are vital part of a successful economy but research shows that most new firms do not appear to survive beyond their 5th year and only 46% of businesses survive for 5 years (Eurostat, 2013). Therefore, Falkirk Council, alongside partners from Spain, Ireland, Malta, Hungary, Germany, Lithuania, Greece, Slovenia and Poland developed a project - via the INTERREG IVC Programme - to understand why SMEs are failing at this age and what can be done to help reverse this situation. The ERDF Interreg IVC Young SMEs Project developed a model of best practice taken from examples from across the partner countries which was refined into a “Young SMEs Road-map” to be used as a tool by policymakers across Europe and as an aid to developing and implementing local and regional action plans specifically to support young SMEs. As a result, other European regions can now benefit from the roadmap to help them transfer and develop specific support to help the survival and growth

of young SMEs. It is intended that policymakers from across Europe will use this document to help them develop and integrate targeted support specifically for SMEs aged 3-5 years into regional action plans by following the steps identified in the roadmap model.

FIFE COUNCIL

Fife’s local community is very active in the field of twinning and Fife Council always has, whenever requested, played a very supportive role. The twinning associations deliver their agenda with an emphasis on youth, economic and community development, encouraged by Fife Council. Fife currently has 20 twin and partner towns.

Twinning associations in Fife see forging these links as a long-term commitment which will benefit future generations. The experience has been a successful driver to help young people to understand for social and cultural differences and as a means to address racism or exclusion. It has also been a driver to transfer local knowledge thus generating a pride for people living in Fife, giving them a sense of ownership and “belonging”. It is about discovering that people have many things in common all over the world.

Projects have led to finding work placements for youngsters from disadvantaged areas, or helping young artists to have the experience of exhibitions abroad, or for musicians to perform in front of a big audience.

In Fife, activities have taken place among all the twin towns involving individuals, groups, organisations and businesses. Schools, voluntary organisations, local associations, elderly people, youngsters, retail associations, residents, firefighters, health groups and sports clubs have all benefited from twinning activities. Their projects have been mostly self-funded or supported by the European Commission and by other sources of funding (lottery, community grants schemes, youth funding, Fife Council grants) etc. Several years ago Fife Council started to organise exchanges of officers between local authorities to share the expertise or to give some officers work experience in a different cultural environment. Areas of work have included the integration of travelling people into the local community, planning and building control regulations and education methods.

Twinning examples

Myeloma twinning group Several people who had Myeloma (a very rare form of incurable cancer) formed a group in Fife. At the time, Fife had the highest number of people with Myeloma in Scotland and the group was aware of different treatments which existed in various parts of Europe. Via twinning, Myeloma Fife approached other groups affected by the disease in order to exchange information on different treatments and effects encountered when in treatment. This interaction lasted for three years and helped to raise awareness of the condition. Some of Fife’s twin towns provided additional support to the initiative by writing articles in local and regional newspapers calling for more support and providing information on the condition.

Historical twinning arrangements Some examples of historical note include the twinning arrangement with Trondeim in Norway with Dunfermline which was signed on 6th May 1945 and will celebrate 70 years next month.

Culross is twinned with Veere in the Netherlands, which was formerly the port through which its export goods entered the Low Countries, and this relationship goes back more than 400 years.

Lower Largo in Fife was twinned with Robinson Crusoe Island in Chile in 2004, which is part of the Juan Fernandez Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is where Alexander Selkirk – who was born in Lower Largo - spent 4 years as a castaway from 1704 and who is said to be the real-life inspiration for Robinson Crusoe.

(For more detailed information on Fife’s twinning arrangements, please see Fife’s Council separately submitted written evidence).

PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL

Twinning activity There are several twinning arrangements within the Perth and Kinross area, including with towns in France, Canada, the USA, Germany, Poland, Russia, Australia and China.

The most high-profile twinning arrangement in the region is that of Dull, a Perthshire town of 85 residents, with that of Boring in Oregon, population 10,000. The difference in population means that they cannot be officially twinned, nevertheless cultural connections between the two towns are strong. After forging the link in 2012, the governor of Oregon officially declared 9 August as Boring and Dull Day across the entire state and they celebrate it annually, including by holding a party with a Scottish twist. The pair was joined in 2013 by Bland, a farm community in New South Wales, creating not a "twinned town" relationship but a "League of Extraordinary Communities” as a means to encourage travel and to promote all three places. The coming together of Dull, Boring and later Bland attracted widespread national media coverage in all three countries.

EU project examples

Storytelling in French and English and creating language resources This Comenius project was a collaboration between several primary and secondary schools in France, Perthshire, and Perth and Kinross Council. The project used storytelling as the vehicle of the production of twelve stories in French and in English for primary and early secondary pupils. Pupils in both France and Scotland were involved in the planning, writing, enacting and recording the stories. The planned activities included classroom observations by French teachers in Scotland and by Scottish teachers in France. The final product is an interactive CD Rom that has been distributed to participating schools. The product has been well-received and has been used as a teaching resource in primary and secondary schools in both countries.

STIRLING COUNCIL

Trade relations with Turkey Stirling has made strong relationships with Turkey at very senior levels. The benefit of the relationship that the Provost has formed is now being shared across Scotland in a trade mission which will take place at the end of August 2015. Whilst Stirling will have a strong facilitation role, the invitation to companies will be national, to ensure best use is made of that relationship - not just locally but across the country. This is a great example of where civic relationships play a role in broadening Scotland's international networks for the benefit of all.

Languages and education In Education, with the "A 1+2 Approach to Language Learning" strategy, Stirling Council is ensuring that it continues to build strong, strategic links with cultural organisation partners: l'Institut Francais, the Spanish Embassy and the Goethe Institute. For example, the Council is developing a programme of professional learning for Secondary Modern Languages teachers with the support of the Spanish Embassy which will culminate in growth of professional exchange programmes for teaching staff along with cultural exchange opportunities for our children and young people. Links with Lille continue through l'Institut Francais but with a tighter focus on building teacher capacity in integrating the learning and teaching of French through Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), along with the development of Scots-French resources to allow children and young people in Lille to celebrate the Scots language. Stirling Council is very keen to ensure that its provision for the learning and teaching of German continues to be a main part of its languages provision in the authority through working with the Goethe Institute.

Twinning activity Stirling has twinning arrangements with Dunedin in Florida, Óbuda in Hungary, Summerside, Prince Edward Island in Canada and Villeneuve-d'Ascq in France.

For more information, please contact:

Joanne Scobie, EU Officer East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC) County Buildings Market Street Forfar DD8 3WD

Email [email protected] Website www.esec.org.uk Twitter @esec2

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT EUROPEAN AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Connecting Scotland Inquiry How Scottish organisations engage internationally

Aberdeen City Council – Twinning & International Partnerships

Twinning Aberdeen

Twinning Aberdeen maintains and develops the relationships with Aberdeen's twin cities and international partnerships. These projects are based on cultural, educational, social and economic exchanges. The International Partnerships Officer can help connect groups between twin cities, facilitate communication and relationships and build on strengthening existing twinning projects to create lasting legacy. Additionally the Officer can help support and organise hosting international delegation visits to Aberdeen.

Our Twin cities participate in Aberdeen's Events, giving these occasions an international dimension, increasing awareness of Aberdeen's strong international links and providing locals and visitors the opportunity to see a different culture. Twinning Aberdeen acts as an excellent platform for promoting the vibrancy of Aberdeen, opening economic opportunities and stimulating interest in Aberdeen as a destination to invest in, live in and visit.

International Twinning Grant

The International Twinning Budget is grant money to help support Aberdeen City groups or organisations in twin city projects and exchanges. The money for the International Twinning Budget comes from the Common Good Fund. Grants of up to £7,000 are available and applications can be submitted throughout the year.

Project Examples:

Europe for Citizens Aberdeen City Council has successfully applied for EU funding from the Europe for Citizens Programme twice within the previous two years. The first project was for a three day conference titled ‘The Impact of the Great War on Aberdeen and her Twin Cities’. Delegates from Aberdeen’s twin cities of Clermont-Ferrand, Regensburg and Gomel were in attendance. Delegates were comprised of upper secondary school pupils and visiting speakers. Two school events and a public conference were arranged as part of the project: Local and international speakers presented on the impact WWI had on various sections of

their community, such as propaganda art in Russia and healthcare in the UK, at a free public event which attracted an audience of over 150 people; secondary school pupils also met with these speakers at more informal learning stations during the first day of the conference; local and international pupils then engaged in a debate facilitated by Europe Direct about how the war currently impacts upon their lives. The event was a great success with participants engaging in lively debate about historical and cultural issues. Secondary school partnerships within the city have since been established with schools in other cities as a direct result of this project.

Twinning Aberdeen also successfully applied for funding for a project that will take place in Autumn 2015. ‘Cultural Connections’ is a cultural networking event designed to create dialogue between cultural organisations in Aberdeen, Clermont-Ferrand and Regensburg which will increase future projects and partnerships between the cities. Delegates from all three cities will present on projects in their cities to a public audience. A networking event will be organised for the evening with the aim that it will provide an informal opportunity for delegates to meet and discuss ideas for future collaborative work. International delegates will also tour the cities venues and cultural organisations to promote the opportunities that are available with groups in Aberdeen City.

Aberdeen Festivals The International Twinning Grant has also supported the participation of groups from cities at key festivals in Aberdeen which enhances the city’s cultural calendar: Sound Festival created an innovative partnership with Musiquee Demesurees in Clermont-Ferrand which resulted in the world premiere of a new work in Aberdeen; Aberdeen International Youth Festival successfully applied for support for a group from Bulawayo; a band from Clermont- Ferrand performed at the Aberdeen Jazz Festival; and the Twinning & International Partnerships Officer arranged for delegates from partner organisations in Stavanger and Regensburg to visit TechFest and DanceLive to see the vibrancy of these events in Aberdeen and discuss future collaborative projects. Both visits resulted in the development of projects which will come to fruition in 2015: Young Norwegians will participate in TechFest’s 2015 programme and collaborate with local young people through a Heroes of Tomorrow programme; and young dancers from Aberdeen and Regensburg will collaborate and perform in public performances in both cities during summer 2015 as part of 60th twinning anniversary celebrations.

and will be launched in a new publication at the University of Aberdeen’s 2015 May Festival.

Court Metrage in Clermont-Ferrand is one of the world’s largest short film festivals. Groups and individuals from Aberdeen have been involved with projects with the festival in recent years: A Creative Learning Officer created a project for local primary schools to work with a director to create their own short films to be submitted at the festival and distributed to local primary schools in the French town to initiate future partnerships; the University of Aberdeen’s Film Studies Department have been to the festival and created a dialogue with the Festival Director who will present at the Director’s Cut series in September 2015; and a selection of shorts from Court Metrage was exhibited at the local independent cinema at a free public event.

School partnerships The Twinning and International Partnerships Officer works closely with local schools and colleagues in the Education Department to increase the awareness of international cultures and languages, as well as to foster new and existing international links. ‘Global Citizenship’ is a core strand of the Curriculum for Excellence. Opportunities to participate in twinning exchange projects enables local young people to actively engage with global citizenship. The Scottish Government has also embedded a new strategy into educational policy which makes it mandatory for all young people to be exposed to learning two additional languages by the time they reach secondary school. Throughout 2014-15, the Twinning & International Partnerships Officer has worked closely with the Education Development Officer for Modern Languages to develop opportunities for pupils and support for teachers.

At the beginning of 2014-15 two active school exchanges existed between schools in Aberdeen and twin cities. Manor Park Primary School and Kincorth Academy continued their exchanges with schools in Clermont-Ferrand and Gomel with pupils from Aberdeen visiting the twin cities. Staff and pupils from Kincorth Academy also began a new exchange with Albertus Magnus Gymnasium in Regensburg. A delegation of teachers from Von Mueller Gymnasium visited Aberdeen in February with the aim of establishing new educational partnerships. This was met with enthusiasm from schools in Aberdeen and teaching staff from Harlaw Academy are planning a reciprocal visit in June 2015 to further develop the partnership. Pupils from Seaton Primary School are also in correspondence with pupils from Von Mueller Gymnasium to prepare them for visiting Regensburg this summer. Several primary schools in Aberdeen have made contact with primary schools in Clermont-Ferrand in preparation for an interactive music exchange project in June. Aberdeen Music School have also made contact with a music school in Stavanger and are in discussions to develop future projects. Furthermore, discussions are currently taking place between the University of Aberdeen’s Education Department and ESPE Blaise

Pascal regarding the provision of a partnership which will support primary education students in the teaching of modern languages within schools.

For more information please contact:

Laura Paterson, Twinning and International Partnerships Officer

Aberdeen City Council Marischal College Business Hub 4 Ground Floor North Broad Street Aberdeen AB10 1AB

Email: [email protected]

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT EUROPEAN AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Connecting Scotland Inquiry How Scottish organisations engage internationally April 2015

TWINNING IN FIFE

Fife’s local community is very active in the field of twinning and Fife Council has always, whenever requested, played a supportive role. The twinning associations deliver their twinning agenda with an emphasis on youth, economic and community development, and are encouraged by Fife Council.

The External Relations Coordinator provides, on request, advice and information on what is twinning, then guides the new partnerships through writing a Constitution, applying for funding or organising some joint inward or outward visits involving members from the local community together with Fife Council officials. The twinning associations also receive guidance through the official twinning process.

Fife has understood that twinning can bring many benefits to people from the community here and abroad. Bringing people together from different parts of the world gives an opportunity for citizens to share problems, to exchange views and to understand different viewpoints on any issue where there is a shared interest or concern. Many twinning associations in Fife see twinning as a long-term commitment which will benefit future generations.

Members from the local community often contact fife Council’s External Relations officers to seek advice on how to go about finding a twin town and how to form a successful partnership. The following should be taken into consideration:

 Twinning can take place between even the smallest villages of similar sizes in terms of area or population but needs careful preparation in order to succeed;  Participants need to take into consideration the similarities between the two areas such as: o Number of inhabitants o Size, geography and area (rural or urban) o Shared activities (social, economic and environmental) o Shared history o Similar issues or assets

This is in order to ensure that each town shares the same aspirations and is able to sustain their twinning relationship, involving the communities year after year.

In the experience of Fife Council, twinning has often been a successful driver to help young people to understand social and cultural differences, as a means to address racism or exclusion. It has also been a driver to transfer local knowledge thus generating a pride for people living in Fife, giving them a sense of ownership and belonging. It is about discovering that people all over the world have many things in common.

The future of a strong twinning partnership relies on involving both communities at all levels, providing the means and knowledge through which they are able to engage with other people, and become and remain active participants.

In Fife, many activities have taken place among all the twin town relationships involving individuals, groups, organisations and businesses. In Fife, many schools, voluntary organisations, local associations, elderly people, youth, retail associations, residents, firefighters, health groups and sports clubs have benefited from twinning activities. Their projects have been mostly self-funded or supported by Fife Council grants, the European Commission and other sources of funding (lottery, community grants schemes, youth funding) etc.

Several years ago we started to organise exchanges of officers between local authorities to give them work experience in different cultural environments and to look at specific issues in order to share expertise, in turn building their personal and professional confidence. All the work placements were successful and led to the individual feeling stronger and ready for new challenges. The areas of work which they studied were varied, and included the integration of travelling people into the local community, planning and building control regulations, methods of education or cemetery maintenance.

For many years we also had a Twinning Forum, where the Chairs of the twinning associations convened to present their activities, projects and ideas to their counterparts. New partnerships joined the Twinning Forum in order to receive support towards creating a twinning association. On occasion, the Forum invited speakers such as those from business or MSPs. This was a great medium to generate ideas and to share information about twinning, for example on new activities, funding or fundraising ideas. The forum met every two months and was eventually replaced by email correspondence to circulate information faster and more frequently, and to save on travel costs and time.

Several years ago a group of people who had Myeloma (a very rare form of incurable cancer) formed a group in Fife. At the time, Fife had the highest number of people with Myeloma in Scotland (13 individuals) and the group was aware of different treatments which existed in various parts of Europe. Via twinning, Myeloma Fife approached other groups affected by the disease in order to exchange information on different treatments and effects encountered when in treatment. This interaction lasted for three years and helped to raise awareness of the condition and provided the participants with strength and comfort. Some of Fife’s twin towns provided additional support to the initiative by writing articles in local and regional newspapers calling for more support and providing information on the condition. Sadly, in the intervening years, many of the group has passed away.

Other successful projects have led to finding work placements for young people from disadvantaged areas, have helped young artists gain the experience of involvement in exhibitions abroad, or have enabled local musicians to perform in front of large audiences.

A list of all the twinning and partnerships can be found in the annex of this briefing. Some of the links are dormant or have disappeared as indicated. Also in the annex is an example of the information we suggest to submit in a profile about a twin town, providing the information to officials involved in a twinning visit (twinning association and Fife Council).

For more information please contact:

Dominique Robertson External Relations Coordinator Communications & Marketing Customer Service Improvement

[email protected]

ANNEX

I. Fife twinning arrangements

Fife has 20 twin and partner towns (both dormant and active) as follows:

TOWNS STATUS DATES FORMED 2015

ALBUFEIRA (Portugal) Dormant link May 1995 with DUNFERMLINE BAPAUME (France) Twinning Oct 1991 with ANSTRUTHER 5th Sept 1992 BÖBLINGEN (Germany) Twinning 30 June 1971 with GLENROTHES BRUGES (Belgium) New partnership One Starting in 2015 with Levenmouth twinning association in each country CORTE FRANCA (Italy) Twinning 31st July 2004 with ABERDOUR ENCONGOLWENI (Malawi) Bond of Friendship 7th September with Dalgety Bay 2009 FLEKKEFJORD (Norway) Twinning 24th February 1946 with BURNTISLAND HOLZMINDEN (Germany) Twinning now closed 27th June 1986 with LEVENMOUTH GANSU (China) Partnership - Not 1989 with FIFE active INGOLSTADT (Germany) Twinning 1962

with KIRKCALDY LOCHES (France) Cultural partnership 1995 in Loches 20TH with ST ANDREWS 1996 in St Andrews LOGROÑO (Spain) Dormant twinning 1990 with DUNFERMLINE link ÓCSA (Hungary) Twinning link to be with Dalgety Bay formalised this year Robinson Crusoe Island Twinning link 10th Sept 2004 (Chile) with LOWER LARGO Ste MÉNEHOULD (France) Twinning 16th October 2010 5th with CUPAR SARASOTA (USA) Twinning 23 August 2001 with DUNFERMLINE TRONDHEIM (Norway) with Oldest twinning link 6th May 1945 70th DUNFERMLINE VEERE (The Netherlands) Partnership at More than 400 years old with CULROSS community level only VICHY (FRANCE) Partnership Since 1990 15TH with DUNFERMLINE WILHELMSHAVEN Twinning 24 th August 1979 (Germany) with DUNFERMLINE ZOLOTAREVO (Ukraine) with Twinning 20th July 2002 NEWPORT-ON-TAY

II. Requested information for new twinning arrangement

Twin town name / Fife town

1. TOWN Address of Municipality Tel: Fax: E: Mail: Website:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

2. LOCATION Number of residents (+ number of people in the district or region) Where is it situated?

3. MAIN ACTIVITIES (E.g.: tourism, agriculture etc.)

4. PARTICULAR ASSETS / PROBLEMS (E.g. assets such as important factories, geographic location, easy access, or issues such as unemployment etc.)

5. NEAREST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (In kilometres and miles or in minutes or hours)

DESCRIPTION OF TOWN COUNCIL OR MUNICIPALITY

6. RANGE OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES (e.g. education, planning etc.)

7. HIGHER AND/OR LOWER TIER OF GOVERNMENT Region or District name (plus functions)

8. NUMBER OF COUNCILLORS Please indicate date of last local election or future election if you already know it.

9. POLITICAL BALANCE List or political parties and number of Councillors representing each political party.

10. CIVIC LEADERSHIP Name of Mayor and date of last and future election Name of other senior figures (and same as above) (Please specify which political party for each)

11. NAMES OF POLITICIANS AND OFFICERS (responsible for twinning and overseas links) Name(s) (please indicate languages spoken, including English) Tel: Email:

12. CONTACT NAME AND NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT TWINNING ASSOCIATIONS Abroad and in Fife Email:

INVOLVEMENT IN EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

13. JOINT EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES (E.g. Objective 1, 2, Etc.) - N/A outside Europe

14. SPECIAL EUROPEAN OR INTERNATIONAL FUNDED PROJECTS (E.g. Leonardo, Socrates etc.) -

15. MEMBERSHIP OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS (E.g. AER - Assembly of European Regions, NSC - North Sea Commission… )

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

16. MAJOR ANNUAL FESTIVITIES OR TRADE FAIRS All year round activities: 1- Names in the local language 2 - Brief description 3 - Dates

17. WHAT TO SEE AND DO Museums, galleries, exhibitions, events etc.

18. HISTORY OF THE TOWN Summary You may also want to include a web site address (tourism office etc.)

19. FAMOUS PEOPLE For example writers, scientists, actors, musicians etc.

TWINNING AND PARTNERSHIP DETAILS

20. OTHER TWIN AND PARTNER TOWNS Names and countries

21. HISTORY OF LINK WITH FIFE Signature in Fife + date Signature abroad + date How did the partnership begin? Please give as many details as you can.

22. LINK ANNIVERSARY Forthcoming important anniversary e.g. “The 15th anniversary of the partnership will take place in 2018”.

23. SUMMARY OF INWARD AND OUTWARD VISITS Please list the visits that have taken place between the 2 towns this last year (at community level, youngsters, businesses etc.)

24. SCHOOLS Primary, secondary, universities etc.

25. TWINNING LINK OFFICER IN FIFE To be filled in by External Relations Coordinator

26. FIFE TWINNING FORUM To be filled in by External Relations Coordinator (Summary of its function and frequency of meeting Name of Chairman, Secretary + their contact details)

27. STUDENT PLACEMENTS Nature of work placement (paid, unpaid, training, exchange) and with which service.

28. WORK EXCHANGES Please indicate if an exchange of employees has taken place and with which business, service, etc. and for how long + generic description of tasks undertaken.

29. NUMBER OF YOUNGSTERS INVOLVED THIS YEAR (2004/05) Visits, e-mails, youth projects etc.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

30. CURRENCY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE Use Universal Currency Converter web site

31.

32.

33.

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

Written evidence from Gillian Walsh, International Officer, Lord Provost’s and International Office, Glasgow City Council

TWIN CITY PROJECTS 2015

CONTACT PROJECT OUTLINE (GLASGOW) CONTACT TO DO BUDGET SPEND (CITY)

NUREMBERG

Erasmus Plus Main partners include Lochend Awaiting agreement on dates for Secondary, Schlau Initiative and next partnership meeting in International Education, GCC Glasgow LGBT Exchange project between LGBT and Awaiting confirmation of dates for Fliederlich prep visit to Nurnberg Berufschule 9 Placement project between Berufschule Meeting due to take place with City 9 and City of Glasgow College of Glasgow College to explore possibilities of placement/exchange Partnerschaft Art exhibition in Nurnberg by Glasgow Exhibition to take place in Jul/Aug artisit Nurnberg/Glasg Joint concert between Nurnberg and Concert to take place in June ow Concert at Glasgow at Cottiers Theatre Cottiers GSA Art exhibition in Nurnberg curated by Exhibition to take place in May 2015 GSA Early years Exchange between Berufschule 9 and Awaiting confirmation of dates for exchange selected Early Years establishments next group of students Football Exchange between Croftfoot United FC Visit to Nurnberg planned for 4-11

1 exchange and Junior football team in Nurnberg April 2015 - currently identifying appropriate team in Nurnberg Glasgow Uni Joint concert in Glasgow Uni with Plans are underway – concert and Hochschule Hochschule fur Musik scheduled to take place in fur Musik joint November 2015 concert STEP-UP Energy project between GCC and Stadt Next visit to Glasgow to take place Nurnberg in Jan 15 G-Stars Participation of Nurnberg youth group Identifying youth group in Nurnberg in Glasgow based event – G-Stars to participate Hospitality Exchange between Berufschule 4 and Placement at Gleneagles scheduled exchange City of Glasgow College/Gleneagles to take place in April 2015 Hotel GHA/Tank Technical exchange of knowledge Awaiting confirmation of dates for between GHA and Youth Services in prep visit Nurnberg looking at outdoor play Sunny Govan Ongoing collaboration involving band Musikzentrale Nurnberg - band Radio and Radio performances, DJ exchange, joint competition Planning visit to Radio Z album. Z

Visit by Glasgow based grouip, Suspire to perform series of gigs in Nuremberg, part sponsored by Radio Z

DALIAN Badminton 2nd leg of exchange between Glasgow GSOS will host a group of young exchange School of Sport (GSOS) and Dalian players from Dalian in Jul/Aug project International Tennis Centre MALAWI

Visit Sept 2015 Focus on Blantyre – IT installations and Oversee preparation of IT training; will include projects in equipment, take delivery of medical Lilongwe, Dedza and Mangochi. equipment and supplies; organise Progress new premises on behalf of container for shipment in May. Sight Aid International. Exploration of Identify participants, book travel, potential fish farm project with accommodation and internal agricultural college transport, plan programme of visits

MARSEILLE

7s Rugby Rugby tournament in April. Programme Waiting on confirmation of team outlined in file selection

Glasgow Continuation of artist exchange – Sculpture 3 months residency for each artist in Studios / Marseille and then Glasgow Triangle

Kick Out 2 Youth project – September in Marseille Awaiting European funding approval Erasmus+

Storytelling Alliance / LPIO launched a storytelling Waiting on applications Competition AF competition. Winner goes to Marseille for week long French studies

Mela Festival JC looking to bring over Marseille music group for Mela

Education Aix- 2 officers to do 2 week intense Awaiting Dates Marseille workshadow with Inspectorate and International Education

Education – Marseille teachers – 2 weeks Teacher placements placements

WW1 Youth Erasmus+ Glasgow application – John Project

ERASMUS Awaiting confirmation on funding Sports Project

French Film Marseille film to be shown. Festival 2015 Confirmation of film and Director

Lochend Head of English wishing to take a Put on hold due to lack of funding Creative number of students to develop their Writing Visit creative writing.

French World JC looking to secure Marseille Artist for Details to be developed Music Celtic Connections 2016

Int Youth Fayre Invitation to Marseille young people to Awaiting response participate

Student work 4 – 4 week work placements from Waiting to hear back from GCT as to

4 placements Marseille vocational high school Jean where these can happen Feb 2016 Baptiste Brochier

Hospitality City of Glasgow College / Lycee Students Hotelliere continuing their student exchange programme

TURIN

WASPS / Acca Artists Exchange – June in Turin (4 M. making artists selection from Atelier Glasgow artists) October in Glasgow (4 Glasgow artist applications Turin Artists)

Horizon 2020 – European project – on Community Awaiting outcome Glasgow Safety Community Awaiting outcome Safety

Marcus Roche Marcus touring Italy with his production Dates to be confirmed Theatre piece and looking to work with a Turinese company and actor

Turin Shroud Archdiocese planning on taking a June delegation to Turin Shroud in June. RC looking for us to make contact with Turin City Council for civic Reception if possible

Royal Institute 2016 Year of Architecture Conference in Details t.b.c. of Architecture Glasgow. Both organisations looking to

5 for Scotland / develop a partnership OAT

Gruppo del Looking to bring over a piece for MELA Discussions with JC Cerchio Festival 2015

Int Youth Fayre Invitation to Turin young people to Awaiting response participate

European City Invitation for Glasgow to speak at this Awaiting response from Glasgow of Sport conference – Sport in Europe Life Conference

BETHLEHEM

Education – St School Twinning partnership Projects ongoing Paul’s Twinning / Terra Sancta

NHS Glasgow / Both organisations developing a First practical visit in May in Bethlehem diploma for Oncology Nursing. Practical Glasgow. University placements to take place. Another visit to Bethlehem planned for September

Education Both organisations looking to develop Psychological exchange of practice / projects Services / First practical visit in May in Bethlehem GTC Glasgow. Another visit to Bethlehem planned

for September

Training for support community workers in the area D working with Glasgow University Transformation - the topics are wide ranging from to identify practitioners to become political economics, spiritual activism, involved in this programme gender reconciliation, popular education, transformative development, leadership, strategic thinking and finally organisational development to enable the community workers in Bethlehem to strengthen their local community organisation

Mayor visit Invitation sent to Mayor – 28.1 Awaiting response

Scottish Cultural delegation to accompany in Details to be worked on Cultural Week September visit to Bethlehem

Int Youth Fayre Invitation for Bethlehem Young people Waiting on response to participate

ROSTOV

Gymnast Continuation of partnership with Awaiting dates for Glasgow visit Project gymnasts from Rostov gymnasts GSS / Rostov

YDance IL – Rostov Choreographer working with Ongoing YDance. Work shadowing and looking

to develop a partnership with Rostov Dance company

WWII Concert Russian Cultural Centre organising a Ongoing and Schools concert and schools programme 9th programme May to mark the 70 year end of WWII

Don State Looking to continue partnership Awaiting info on potential dates Technical University of Rostov / North Glasgow College

Rostov State Looking to develop partnerships with May visit University of Glasgow Universities on a number of Civic themes Engineering

Artist Exchange CC looking to host a Rostov Artist in Details to follow Cara Crawford 2015

LAHORE

School Glasgow schools developing Lahore partnerships school partnership

Mela Festival JC looking to secure Lahore group to To be discussed perform at Mela

HAVANA

Havana A music / art / film festival in Glasgow Glasgow to be based at the CCA & Glasgow Film Festival Theatre. Cuban film makers / musicians / photo exhibition

Royal Looking to develop links with Havana. Conservatoire / Travelling to Havana with his Album Matthew which features music by some of Cuba’s McAllister prominent composers

MS SOCIETY To set up a link between M.S. To be developed CUBA, M.S sufferers/societies and medical FEDERATION practitioners in Havana and Glasgow UK

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Glasgow’s International and European Strategy 2009 to 2012 International&EuropeanStrategy-14Jul09:Layout 1 14/07/2009 14:56 Page 2

GLASGOW’S INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN STRATEGY 2009 TO 2012 Contents

Foreword 3

1 Introduction 4

2 Assessment of former Strategy “Scotland’s International Capital” 6

3 Current External Situation 12

4 Strategic Objectives 18

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GLASGOW’S INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN STRATEGY 2009 TO 2012 Foreword

It is our pleasure to commend Glasgow City Council’s latest International Strategy 2009 to 2012 “Glasgow: Commonwealth City”. Glasgow has always been a city that is proud of its international standing and has confidence in its international image as a welcoming yet competitive city. In the global economy we recognise that we must compete to attract resources, both human and financial, Glasgow has strong inward investment, steady inward migration and consistently high tourism figures. Glasgow has considerable expertise in international affairs and the Council’s international function is at the heart of the civic leadership agenda. Two of the key areas of the Strategy that deserve particular attention as they represent specific achievements and opportunities for Glasgow and for the Council. The first is the momentum gained with international relations since the launch of the Council’s first International Strategy in 2004. The second is the awarding of the 2014 Commonwealth Games to the City. The first Strategy set out a range of programmes to meet its stated aims and this document provides an appraisal of those programmes and their impact on the City and Council. The Strategy broke new ground in that it specifically placed the international policy of a major UK city in the context of competitiveness policy. It also consolidated the Council’s international twinning links and spanned a period when three new twin cities were created to bring the City’s total to eight. It gave a greater focus to the Council’s international partners within the city in the fields of academia and business and helped demonstrate the value of working on a global front to promote Glasgow. The new Strategy will build on these significant first steps and continue to guide how Glasgow seeks to position itself to its maximum advantage in a fast changing world. The Council’s most prominent current Commonwealth Activities lie with the developing countries of Malawi, South Africa and Sri Lanka and we will continue to work with these and other developing nations to our mutual benefit. We will also maintain our links with such countries as Pakistan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand which have strong Scottish and Glaswegian diaspora populations with whom we can sustain important social, educational, cultural and economic links. The Council’s achievements in international affairs can add real value to the legacies from the Commonwealth Games and whilst Glasgow will aim for maximum benefit from the Games, the Council can and must take a lead in making a major contribution to the Commonwealth. In our respective roles we will work together with partners, colleagues and staff to ensure Glasgow’s future as a Commonwealth City is assured.

Councillor Lord Provost Councillor Steven Purcell Bob Winter Hanzala Malik Leader of the Council Executive Committee Member for International Links

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GLASGOW’S INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN STRATEGY 2009 TO 2012 1 Introduction

CULTURE AND SPORT GLASGOW SPORT AND CULTURE Glasgow’s first International Strategy, “Scotland’s International Capital”, MALAWI has now been updated and revised to take account of the City’s latest Funded by the Scottish Executive International initiatives and aims for the next four years. This Strategy International Development Fund, “Glasgow: Commonwealth City” will run to 2012 and will build on the lessons Angela Porter Director Glasgow learned previously to expand the Council’s capacity to take further steps School of Sport visited Malawi internationally and to deliver an ambitious, practical, and achievable series of to set up athletics scholarships. International Objectives. Despite finding very basic It is acknowledged in the urban policy community that the relationship facilities and resources the young between cities and the wider international scene are crucial for their futures. people were passionate about sport. Starter athletics resource In this sense alone, Glasgow’s initiative to launch the strategy “Scotland’s kits were shipped to Malawi and International Capital” was a significant step. Of course many other cities are 4,000 school children across realising the importance of an international perspective. This is likely to Mzuzu and Lilongwe participated increase as globalisation accelerates. in weekly sessions. This was In the UK, the English Core Cities are celebrating their international links. followed by regional competitions, Similarly, Glasgow’s European twin cities are pursuing progressive international the issue of athletics equipment polices. Marseilles, Nuremberg and Turin all have strong international objectives bags to the top 15 schools and which are set out clearly on their respective websites. coach education workshops delivered by GSOS coach Norrie The case for active and progressive international policies will vary for different Hay. Six talented athletes, cities: these may be predominantly historical, predominantly geographical; accompanied by two teachers, predominantly economic and so on. However, they all have in common that completed a two-week athletics they see their city as needing to establish and maintain their place in the wider scholarship in March 2008 world. Glasgow’s revised international strategy signals the same intent. following the timetable, training 1.2 Executive Summary and schooling of a GSOS athletics pupil. The 2009 to 2012 Strategy “Glasgow - Commonwealth City” comprises the following material. > An account of the Council’s performance in relation to the earlier Strategy “Scotland’s International Capital”. This is set out in terms of a questionnaire based evaluation; an assessment of the quality of Glasgow’s twin city relationships according to a set of criteria known as the Bonn Index; and an account of successful operations in the areas of networks (above all in Eurocities) major transnational projects funded through EU programmes; and international development. The conclusions are formulated in terms of strengths and weaknesses. > An account of the current external environment in which the new Strategy must be operate. This is set out in terms of the impact of the 2014 Commonwealth Games; and in terms of the challenges faced in the coming period, so as to take into account political, economic, social and technological factors. This includes a commitment to support and complement other relevant strategies in the City such as the Council Plan, the new Economic Strategy, and Glasgow’s Cultural and Tourism Strategies. Conclusions are formulated in terms of opportunities and responses to threats, acknowledging the background of the financial crisis and continuing economic recession, which began in 2008.

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GLASGOW’S INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN STRATEGY 2009 TO 2012

MUSEUMS WORK IN GLASGOW SPORT AND CULTURE WESTERN CAPE Funded by Glasgow City Council’s To meet these challenges with the capacity identified, the Strategy is International Office, Mark O’Neill, constructed around three high level objectives as follows. Head of Arts and Museums, spent > To build Glasgow’s role as host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games by a week in East London at the developing relationships with Commonwealth countries. invitation of the Heroes Park Museum. A group of voluntary > To enhance the City’s image, impact and presence internationally. community leaders had secured a site for a museum celebrating > To play a full role in the Internationalisation Strand of the “Step Change for the heroes of the Eastern Cape, Glasgow” economic strategy. the birthplace of many famous Delivery of these main aims will be primarily the responsibility of the Lord South Africans. Mark used Provost and International Office (LP&IO) in conjunction with others. Glasgow’s experience of developing briefs for major The Strategy sets out the business case for participation in international projects to work with the relations, especially in the case of Council Services, giving concrete examples. committee to clarify their vision Delivery itself will come about primarily through the workings of three specific for the museum, to outline a programmes: business plan and to identify the steps to implementation. > Commonwealth and International Development. This will reflect the This plan provided the basis for Council’s emphasis on the Commonwealth and build on established links, a successful grant application for example those with Malawi and with South Africa. This programme will to the SA government for the obviously relate directly to the Commonwealth Games, and the declared development of the museum. intention of Glasgow to contribute to development goals as part of its commitment as Host City after 2010. > Twin Cities and Global Citizenship. This will seek to build on and strengthen the twin city programme and to continue to support international delegations and visitors. In particular the Council will welcome the opportunity to support incoming delegations from emerging democracies which address governance issues. > Global Glasgow. This will promote international networking and developing the city’s international relationships. It will therefore include inputs to the competitiveness and globalisation agendas as Glasgow seeks to expand its profile, including into crucial markets such as North America and China. Internally, Council services will be informed of opportunities for participation in international projects and programmes, especially those attracting EU

support, and networks such as EUROCITIES and its forums. LLP (GLASGOW) BUILDING CITY BUILDING A HIV/AIDS CLINIC IN MALAWI At Chikwawa District Hospital, located in the Rift Valley, a team of nine experienced tradesmen from City Building LLP (Glasgow) constructed a much needed HIV/AIDS Clinic and helped to extend office facilities. They worked alongside Malawian colleagues and passed on their skills as well as leaving behind valuable tools and equipment for use by the Malawians after they left. Much of the building materials for the project were donated by Companies contracted by City Building LLP.

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GLASGOW’S INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN STRATEGY 2009 TO 2012 2 Assessment of former Strategy “Scotland’s International Capital”

2.1 Stakeholders’ Questionnaire Following the Council election of May 2007, with the strategy having been in operation for three years and following the merger of the International Office with the Lord Provost’s Office, it was timely to undertake a review of the European and International Strategy. To assist in this process, an online questionnaire was developed. This sought to: > establish stakeholder views on the relevance of the existing strategy, > obtain feedback about the service provided by international staff and > DEVELOPMENT AND REGENERATION SERVICES REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT provide comment on the future requirements of stakeholders. ATLAS SCOTLAND There was a general feeling of satisfaction with regard to the Council’s team This project was granted responsible for developing Glasgow’s position in Europe. Most organisations £5.3 million European Social felt they benefited from the assistance and practical advice they received from Fund monies in 2001 to 2007 the Council’s dedicated staff. Overall respondents generally felt the work through the Equal Community Glasgow City Council had done recently contributed positively to the city’s Initiative, rounds 1 and 2. position in relation to European and International affairs. They expressed The Council led a partnership of the view that this work had enhanced the city’s profile, helped create new 16 local and national organisations networks and strengthen present networks. with the aim of developing models of integration so that asylum Generally respondents agree that the international programme followed since seekers are well positioned to 2004 contributed positively to change the City’s international profile. seek employment, should they 2.2 Activity Report Findings become eligible. Following the publication of the Strategy “Scotland’s International Capital” in A key element of the project was June 2004, two activity reports were published (2005 and 2007) as elements transnational cooperation with of an appraisal scheme for the Strategy. five other partners from across Europe including Austria, Lithuania, These reported a record of solid achievement in each of the five programmes. Italy, Finland and Poland. Transnational products were In the Competitive City programme, Glasgow lived up to its reputation as one developed including two CDs, of Europe’s top cities for urban regeneration. The activities of this programme, two Workbooks and a website in and the policy contribution made by the former International Office to the time for the final dissemination developing new Economic Strategy, were recognised as an important component meeting held in June 2007 in in that process. Warsaw. Staff exchanges were a The Twinning Programme had seen two major anniversaries: in 2005, Glasgow major feature of the transnational and Nuremberg celebrated 20 years of twinning, and in 2006, this milestone partnership and 106 people was also achieved by the relationship between Glasgow and Rostov-on-Don. working with asylum seekers Glasgow also signed three new twinning agreements, with Bethlehem participated in the staff exchange (Palestine), (Marseilles (France) and Lahore (Pakistan). programme which provided an insight at a local level to the The Networks and Services Programme had progressed by combining two workings with the target group former programmes. The main network activity was again through EUROCITIES across the six countries. and through the EU’s URBACT programme. The Small World programme had progressed with the Commonwealth Local Government Good Practice Scheme (LGGPS) funded project in Amathole, South Africa: the hallmark was good partnership working. The Planning and Resources Programme included major projects. The largest of these was the EU Institution Building Partnership Programme (IBPP) project on drugs misuse, which made an impact in Rostov-on-Don and its wider region. This had brought considerable benefits to Glasgow as well as to Rostov (see p20). The conclusion of these Activity Reports was that of a solid record of achievement towards the objectives set out in 2004. As well as covering that activity, they highlighted the work of the Council in international projects and networks, and outlined the many benefits.

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2.3 Twinning The Town Twinning Movement started in Europe after the Second World War. The initial objective of the movement was to increase mutual understanding between cities and countries, and to promote respect and tolerance between different cultures. It has since broadened out in scope but still has a focus, as expressed by the European Commission of “providing the opportunity to find out about the daily lives of citizens in other European countries, to talk to them and exchange experiences, and to develop joint projects on issues of common interest, such as local integration, the environment, economic development and cultural differences” Twinning is not just an official agreement to be made and archived, but a permanent commitment of both parties to work together to their mutual benefit. Increasingly however cities are seeking to develop more ‘added value’ from twinning links and it is now generally seen as a means of promoting practical co-operation projects (eg in regional and urban development, governance, culture, education, exchanges of knowledge and good practice etc). TWINNING IN GLASGOW Glasgow entered the twinning movement relatively late in 1983 However, since then Glasgow’s Twin City Network has developed significantly. It is set within a wider context of formal and informal contacts both within the Council and with other Glasgow institutions. The approach taken by the Council to twinning has been to set the following criteria for choice of twin cities: > Value added

> Comparability GLASGOW SPORT AND CULTURE ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA > Complementarity A twin-city of Glasgow for > Compatability 23 years, Rostov-On-Don hosts Glasgow has eight formal Twins: Nuremberg, Rostov-on-Don, Dalian, Turin, the Olympic Reserve School No 2 Havana, Marseilles, Lahore and Bethlehem. (Of these, Bethlehem was established to produce Olympic declared by the Council as a specific case due to its position in the occupied champions in the sport of Artistic Gymnastics. With the aim of West Bank.) learning from the best in the world and raising standards of performance as 2014 approaches, Glasgow School of Sport have developed an exciting exchange programme with the ORS. Launched in May 2008, GSOS hosted six Russian gymnasts and three coaches who shared their skills, techniques and methods through joint training sessions, displays and workshops. In October nine top gymnasts from GSOS, the City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club, accompanied by two coaches and Director GSOS travelled to Rostov for 10 days to live and train at the ORS. A return visit from the Rostov Gymnasts to Glasgow School of Sport took place in June 2009.

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2 Assessment of former Strategy “Scotland’s International Capital”

DEVELOPMENT AND REGENERATION SERVICES REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING TRUST - STRATEGIC WATER MANAGEMENT The recent use of Memoranda of Understanding has been increasingly important to support bilateral relationships with other cities. Glasgow City Council were key partners in the TRUST project, In addition, in the cases of Marseilles and Lahore, these were drawn up as a funded through the Interreg IIIB precursor to full twinning agreements. In the case of Amathole (South Africa), programme. Completed in 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding has been used to define the objectives and this project brought together limits of a technical partnership based on economic development projects and 5 innovative projects from across the availability of third party funding, specifically Commonwealth Local Europe that use water in spatial Government Good Practice Scheme. planning. The projects, involving In Rostov-on-Don the Lord Provost and Mayor signed a Memorandum of partners in Scotland, England, Understanding in September 2007, which is now leading to new projects in the Netherlands and Belgium, were part of wider strategies on areas such as roads, traffic planning and physical urban regeneration. special planning and water In these ways, Memoranda of Understanding can provide added focus and management that aim for the renewed momentum to existing twinning commitments, and can make clear economic regeneration of the the aims and scope of other bilateral relationships. area involved. 2.4 Twinning: the Bonn Index Development and Regeneration Services became involved in the The “Bonn Index” is an assessment system based on the use of a set of criteria TRUST project to benefit from set up by Bonn to assess its twinning relationships. Scores are determined by transnational experience in an annual subjective assessment by officers of the following criteria. managing surface water and > Seriousness of interest in co-operation focussed on the redevelopment of the Ruchill area as a direct > Experience in the execution of joint projects result of previous flooding during > Existence of a driving force or project champion on each side heavy rain. A demonstration project was constructed to > Support of third parties illustrate the best method of > Possibility to attract third party funding (e.g. EU, private sponsorship) managing surface water in that particular area of the City while > Political support highlighting the benefits of improved water quality and > Possibility to use for strategic purposes (i.e. in line with other Council renewable energy sources. priorities) The key findings for 2006 to 2007 were: > Nuremberg was Glasgow’s most developed twinning relationship. > Havana was Glasgow’s least developed twinning relationship. > Marseilles and Lahore owe their current position to the commitment resulting from their comparative newness. > The four “mature” twin cities of Nuremberg, Rostov, Dalian and Turin represent a solid core of effective twinning activity. > It is too early to assess the relationship with Bethlehem in this system.

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2.5 Transnational Projects and Networks SERVICES REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT RE: FOCUS AND MAISHA Glasgow City Council has an excellent record of participation in International TRANSNATIONAL Networks and Transnational Projects, with active involvement in the networks/ PARTNERSHIP projects. This has included securing major international recognition for the City (e.g. through its leading positions in EUROCITIES Forums) as well as Funded by the European EQUAL funding (e.g. major projects on drugs misuse treatment in IBPP). Programme, the RE:FOCUS Development Partnership, led by Glasgow has also contributed to standing networks of cities, including Les Glasgow City Council, was the Rencontres; Si Tous Les Ports Du Monde; and especially EUROCITIES. implementation arm of the Equal The latter is the major organisation of large cities in Europe (i.e, those over Access Into Employment Strategy, 250,000), in which the City has played made a major role in the Knowledge The aim of the partnership was Society and Economic Development Forums (FSF and EDF). In both cases, to help people with health and Glasgow hosted Forum meetings. In the EDF, Glasgow has acted as Chair city social care needs to integrate or for two years and has led the key Working Group on economic migration. reintegrate back into the labour Glasgow’s strengths are also shown by success in such initiatives as those market. With 22 projects and 96 partner organisations, this pursued by Land and Environmental Services, e.g. European Mobility Week, was one of the largest in the UK. where has achieved a leading position for Glasgow in successive years; the A critical element was the International Rose Trials, which involves rose societies from 30 countries transnational cooperation with (11 of which are in the Commonwealth); and the consolidation of the City’s partners in Pesaro, Italy and worldwide reputation with regard to the Botanic Gardens (in education and Hamburg, Germany, to form the collections) and Pollok Country Park (declared Best Park in Europe 2008). MAISHA partnership (More 2.6 International Development Ambitions, Integration, Skills and Higher Ambitions). The first Strategy included a commitment to an international development The partnership had the common element within the Competitive City programme (“Small World”). As this aim of working together to develop evolved, it became clear that it was substantial enough to stand alone as a EU approaches to combat programme in its own right. This became the case particularly following the discrimination in the labour market development of links with Malawi, South Africa and Sri Lanka. that could be transferred into Therefore the most prominent current Commonwealth activities undertaken in practice and policy. The partnership the Council’s international development programme are links with Malawi, and successfully developed three the technical partnership with Amathole, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. approaches looking at early The Council has also worked in Sri Lanka with the Hikkaduwa Area Relief intervention, skills development Fund and is participating in the Chevening fellowship scheme whereby and diversity in the workplace. Council departments, in conjunction with NGO partners, host professionals from developing counties to increase their competences and thereby their effectiveness on their return to their own countries.

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2 Assessment of former Strategy “Scotland’s International Capital”

EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES WORK SOCIAL AND EDUCATION Working with the Scotland-Malawi Partnership, and other partners, the LAHORE Council has been instrumental in aid and development activities in Malawi, Two Secondary Schools and two sending staff to construct consulting rooms for AIDS/HIV patients; a pharmacy Primary Schools in Glasgow have and office facilities; and an office extension and training suite in Chikwawa received external funding to work Hospital. In 2008, a further project created Malawi’s only prosthetics and with six schools in Pakistan. orthotics clinic, to be operated in conjunction with the Scottish-based charity Shawlands Academy has received 500 Miles. Further valuable partnerships have been established between funding from the DFID Global Malawi and Glasgow schools (including Holyrood and Govan High Schools) School Partnerships programme and universities. to work with their partner school The work with Amathole in the Eastern Cape is funded by the Commonwealth Lahore Lyceum. Bellahouston Local Government Good Practice Scheme (CLGGPS), and comprises training Academy, Annette Street Primary and support for local economic development, especially in East London and and Holy Cross Primary have Butterworth. The Leader of the Council has signed a Memorandum of received funding from the Understanding with the Mayor of Amathole which commits the Councils to Connecting Classroom Initiative to work with five schools in Islamabad. further engagement. The schools will work on joint In Sri Lanka, the projects funded included reinstatement of the local fishing curriculum projects of common fleet; school refurbishment; tourism development; and an arts-based interest. Working cooperatively reconstruction programme. across national boundaries will assist the children and young Current plans for Malawi include pilot solid waste management schemes in people to develop as global Lilongwe and Blantyre, funded through the Scottish Government’s citizens, will foster greater unity International Development Fund. within the two countries, increase In Lahore, there have been aspects of the twin city relationship which have a knowledge and understanding of strong international development aspect. In this respect, the contributions of each other’s societies and build a Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and the Royal Hospital for sense of the world that celebrates Sick Children at Yorkhill have been significant in providing expertise in public diversity and multiculturalism. and emergency services. Education Services has secured external funding for 2 secondary and 2 primary schools to work with 6 schools in Pakistan. Shawlands Academy has received DFID Global Schools Partnership funding for work with Lahore Lyceum; Bellahouston Academy, Annette Street and Holy Cross Primary Schools have received funding from the Connecting Classrooms Initiative to work with 5 schools in Islamabad. These schools will work on joint curriculum projects of common interest, with the aim of assisting young people in both countries to develop as global citizens; to increase knowledge and understanding of each other’s society; and build a sense of the world which celebrates diversity and multi-culturalism.

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GLASGOW’S INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN STRATEGY 2009 TO 2012 Conclusions

STRENGTHS SERVICES WORK SOCIAL AND EDUCATION INDIE INITIATIVE The following strengths following the strategy “Scotland’s International Capital” can therefore be identified: Five Glasgow schools have been participating in the new British > Commitment to an international strategy, which puts Glasgow into the Council INDIE initiative: Inclusion same bracket as other comparable and competitor cities in Europe and and Diversity in Education. beyond. The purpose of this project is to > Capacity to formulate policy, and the practical know-how which grows develop culturally inclusive from confidence and determination to succeed as a major centre of schools that raise attainment and international competitiveness. develop school students as young leaders. Shawlands Academy, > Effectiveness with which the International Strategy has been pursued, as All Saints Secondary, Hillhead proven by the survey of stakeholders and other opinion formers in the city. High School and Holyrood > Expertise of the staff concerned, demonstrating a significant resource in Secondary and Lourdes Secondary terms of personnel and commitment. (This is also witnessed by a strong have all taken part in this record in the execution of major projects, for example the IBPP drugs influential project which has a misuse treatment project with Rostov-on-Don.) remit to influence European schools, subject to a white and > The twinning programme, which shows thriving relationships where green paper in Brussels. conditions are favourable, suggesting the capability to recognise and develop opportunities where these arise. 10 young people from each school took part in training activities for > The ability of councillors and staff to maintain Glasgow’s reputation as young leaders, before 1 young a reliable partner and, by implication, a good place with which to do person from each school was business. This is especially demonstrated by the effectiveness of the three selected to go to Brussels to “top twins”. discuss the delivery and > Glasgow City Council’s record in international networks and composition of the “European programmes, which has benefited the Council and the City by accessing Youth Charter on Inclusion and and contributing to world-class expertise. Diversity” with their peers from other European schools. > Glasgow’s record and expertise in international development projects, A teacher from each school was which has established a track record for assistance to some of the world’s also invited to the conference. poorest countries and regions. A 9 point European Charter was > The remit to develop Glasgow’s role in relation to Commonwealth agreed which was presented to countries in the build up to the 2014 Games the policy makers, who will discuss the issues raised and, in WEAKNESSES response to the student voice, Similarly, the following challenges became apparent in the strategy: make a declaration on the management of diverse and > Clarity should be sought concerning the scope and ownership of the inclusive schools at the European strategy to involve a wider range of stakeholders. Parliament. The schools in Glasgow are now working in a cluster with > There should be a more systematic approach to the alignment of the schools from Portugal, Spain and Strategy with internal council policy processes such as the Council Plan Greece. In May 2008 and Best Value reviews. representatives of all of the > Efforts should be made to reach out to Glasgow’s business and 17 schools involved met together commercial factors. This would again support the objective of “creating at the San Isidro School in Madrid the best possible conditions to grow Glasgow’s European and international to discuss their joint project economy.” proposals arising form the Charter. The schools will work together > There should be a more approach to involvement of Services in over a two year period. European and international networks. Whilst recognising that Service priorities must remain primarily focussed on delivery locally and will change through time, the benefits of International networking encouraged further. > Particular difficulties with resources in the cases of Havana and Bethlehem should be acknowledged: in Havana because of the extreme economic problems of Cuba, and in Bethlehem because of the restrictions on the quality of life in the occupied West Bank.

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As well as researching BUREAU MARKETING CITY GLASGOW 3 Current External Situation conferences that Glasgow should bid for, staff in the Convention Bureau at Glasgow City Marketing 3.1 Commonwealth Games Bureau regularly travel overseas The Commonwealth Games bid began to be developed in September 2004, to promote the city. shortly after the launch of the 2004 to 2007 strategy “Scotland’s International The team attends the annual Capital.” Nonetheless, there were clear links between the two, both in their conference, events, exhibitions level of ambition and in their implementation, for example, the decision to and business meetings EIBTM in participate in the Commonwealth Local Government Good Practice Scheme. Barcelona and IMEX in Frankfurt, Above all, the qualities in the City as then outlined in “Scotland’s International and has regular face to face Capital” are those that secured the Games for Glasgow: world-class facilities; meetings in cities such as a strong internationalist outlook; the readiness to take a national lead Brussels and New York with the (“Scotland’s Bid”); and above all the ambition to put and keep the City on the international associations that global map. The award of the Games to Glasgow in November 2007 was a host large conferences. magnificent achievement, and confirmation of these strengths. Other Convention Bureau The process of bidding for the Games helped to significantly strengthen the activities including speaking at or City’s links with Commonwealth countries. The great majority of Commonwealth taking a booth at major industry Games Associations and Commonwealth Olympic Committees have, for shows such as the International instance, now visited and spent time in Glasgow as part of the bid process Congress and Convention with the overwhelming feedback being very positive. These links will be further Association (ICCA) to profile the strengthened as we approach 2014. city. Links with Delhi will particularly improve as we move towards their hosting of The Bureau’s Conference the 2010 Games and the ceremonial handover from Delhi to Glasgow that will Ambassador Programme is a form a key part of the closing ceremony in 2010. This handover is in itself a one-stop shop that offers advice major cultural event and will enable Glasgow and Delhi to work more closely to anyone locally - including together over the next few years. Council staff - with international business or academic links who In addition Glasgow will stage the Commonwealth Games Assembly in 2013 is thinking about bidding for a and 2014 and will have the opportunity to establish closer links with the conference. Commonwealth institutions including the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth meetings of Ministers and Sports Ministers. As other Commonwealth cities start to think about bidding for 2018 they will undoubtedly start to visit and form closer links with Glasgow in the same way that Glasgow strengthened its cultural, sporting and political links with Melbourne during the bid process. Manchester (2002) and Melbourne (2006) formed highly successful Commonwealth Business Clubs aimed at strengthening economic and business links with key Commonwealth countries. Glasgow can learn from their experience. The City has already established some educational links through programmes such as the Commonwealth Scholarship Programme and other programmes operated by the British Council. It will be possible to build on the success of the two Commonwealth Sports Development Conferences by developing exchange programmes and seeking opportunities for shared learning with some of the key sports development programmes that are taking place in countries such as South Africa, Kenya and the Caribbean countries. These type of programmes are primarily about using the power of sport to address wider social issues and will be part of the overall legacy of the Games. The award to the city of the Commonwealth Games 2014 is clearly one of the most significant events for Glasgow in many years. The impacts of the Games will not only be on the sporting field, or even in the associated tourism aspects; they will give a focus and context to a wide range of projects in the areas of infrastructure, regeneration and development and all the Council’s policies. It is also envisaged that the Games will leave a legacy of improvements to the City which will prove beneficial to biodiversity, as the Glasgow Local Biodiversity Action Plan is implemented.

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The relationship which Glasgow will develop with the Commonwealth family of BUREAU MARKETING CITY GLASGOW nations is of key importance to the Council and the Lord Provost has been Glasgow’s key overseas markets asked to take on the responsibility for this aspect of City’s Commonwealth for leisure tourism are the USA, commitments. Germany and France, with Canada expected to gain ground on Italy, The Games will self-evidently have a sports focus, based on the delivery Ireland, Australia and Spain (in agencies including the operating company. In the same way, the office of fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh Lord Provost (as Lord Lieutenant) will be in a unique position to provide a positions, respectively) as a result diplomatic focus or hub in Glasgow, with responsibility to welcome High of the Homecoming celebrations Commissioners and other dignitaries. in 2009. 3.2 External Environment – Political Glasgow City Marketing Bureau The last international strategy was set against a background of a rapidly (GCMB) works in close conjunction developing international political scene, which was reflected at every level with a number of strategic from the domestic to the global. Since then, the process of change has partners to address these markets, continued. At a Council level there has been a significant shift in the political most notably airlines, VisitScotland and VisitBritain. A good example representation as well as changes in operational and managerial practices. of this is a recent direct mail Following the Scottish Parliament election of May 2007, the Scottish piece that GCMB produced in Government has continued a number of the international policies of the former collaboration with VisitScotland administration, and is seeking to raise the international profile of Scotland still and US Airways to highlight further. For example, there is a continuing China policy. For Scotland Week in Homecoming Scotland 2009. the USA in 2008 and 2009, the Scottish Government concentrated on More than 25,000 people of Scots Washington DC and a wider range of cities in the USA and Canada, rather descent living in Pennsylvania than New York City. In these years, Glasgow was represented in New York, were mailed a copy of the Chicago, Toronto, and New Hampshire, in 2009 in support of the Scottish Homecoming events brochure Government’s Homecoming initiative.. with introductory remarks by Glasgow Lord Provost, Bob Winter. The Scottish Government has also published its International Framework, in which it describes its international objectives to be: The city brand, Glasgow: Scotland with style is central to all this > “Creating the conditions for talented people to live, learn, visit, work and activity, providing consistent remain in Scotland… messaging, look and feel. > “…the promotion of Scotland abroad… > “managing Scotland’s reputation as a distinctive global identity, an independent minded and responsible nation…confident in its place in the world.” The Scottish Government will seek to achieve these objectives by a number of means, including greater use of Scotland’s international reputation and promotion of the country’s educational assets, including schools, FE and HE institutions. The Government recognises the international importance of financial services, life sciences and food and drink. Tourism is a further priority sector, with an extra commitment to generate a legacy from major events. Glasgow City Council and other local authorities can and do provide assistance and support to many of these objectives. This is also the case in the Scottish Government’s commitment to international development, which is set out in a further policy statement (Scottish Government International Development Policy), and is substantially focused on Malawi. Local government services and governance principles can make a particularly important contribution to the Millennium Development Goals and the Council will seek to continue to work with the Government in Malawi, other Commonwealth countries and beyond. This point was made by the Lord Provost at the United Nations Mayors Forum in September 2008, where it received widespread support, from a number of national governments, including the UK. The Government has indicated in its Action Plan on European Engagement that its main priorities are either at EU level (budgets, energy and justice) or relate to specifically rural or fisheries issues. The issue of the future of EU structural funds, however has significant implications at all levels – Scotland, West of Scotland – and the Council will continue to work through the West of Scotland European Forum and its European Officer in Brussels to maximise the benefits from European Union funds and initiatives to the City and the city-region. 13 International&EuropeanStrategy-14Jul09:Layout 1 14/07/2009 14:56 Page 14

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3 Current External Situation

GLASGOW CITY MARKETING BUREAU MARKETING CITY GLASGOW Finally, the Scottish Government seeks to further develop bilateral work with In October 2008, Glasgow City European partners. In the past, Glasgow has offered support to these aims, Marketing Bureau organised a especially in relation to Bavaria through the Nuremberg twinning link, and will reception in Paris to highlight continue to do so. Glasgow’s creative, business and style credentials to media, At the UK level, the new Prime Minister’s government appears to have corporate clients and opinion maintained similar foreign policy objectives, for example, by continuing its formers and to publicise easyJet’s high profile international development programme though DFID in support of service from Charles de Gaulle the Millennium Development Goals. airport. The European Union has completed a further stage of enlargement since The Bureau’s PR and Marketing June 2004, to add to that which had taken place in May of that year, bringing departments, and Convention membership to 27 countries. As important is the fact that the majority of new Bureau worked together to address member states are in central and eastern Europe, and were formerly Warsaw this important overseas market Pact, controlled societies and economies, or - as in the case of the Baltic and guests included alumni of States – part of the former USSR. Their accession has brought with them a the universities of Glasgow and number of challenges. These include a massive backlog in industrial and civil Strathclyde, Paris-based infrastructure; lack of commercial and social capital; and significant problems GlobalScots, cultural contacts resulting from the relative newness of their legal codes and frameworks. of GCMB Vice-Chair, Bailie The EU therefore faces significant challenges in trying to meet the demands Liz Cameron, plus representatives placed upon it. Most importantly for Glasgow, the need to invest in these new of UNESCO, VisitScotland and member states will mean that Structural Fund programmes for the west of VisitBritain. Scotland may be phased out after 2013. In the meantime, the new fund Guests enjoyed a whisky tasting JESSICA which will be established for infrastructure investments and the and music provided by the Seventh Framework programme which funds Research and Development may RSAMD, and short films were be suitable for Glasgow. shown on Charles Rennie 3.3 External Environment – Economic Mackintosh, museums and galleries, shopping, contemporary Since 2009, it has been clear that the previous unprecedented period of art, and the work of the Glasgow: continuous economic growth had come to an end. In contrast, all forecasts Scotland with style Design for the following period are now for a perhaps extended and significant Collective. recession. It must be acknowledged that this will bring with it considerable challenges for Glasgow, including low economic growth (or even contraction), rising unemployment and weak domestic and export markets. At the same time, Glasgow’s position differs from that in earlier recessions and indeed from that of some other cities, in having an established record of regeneration and recovery. In addition and more importantly, the City is fortunate in having secured a business infrastructure and investment which should support a strong recovery when the upturn comes in the wider economy. There is also the possibility that some features of the downturn will benefit some sectors of the Glasgow economy: for example, exchange rates may increase the advantages of the City as a retail and tourist destination. The international outlook of the City has played its part in its record of regeneration and will continue to do so, as the worldwide will require global responses. In this context, those cities with international strategies will again be well positioned when the upturn arrives. More than ever an essential part of the development of the International Strategy is the way that it is set within the overall policy context of the city; this is clearest in the case of the new economic strategy A Step Change for Glasgow which itself recognised the importance of the external economic context: Step Change Theme: International positioning Glasgow is increasingly subject to global competition. To be successful, Glasgow has to compete for international flows of investment and talent. Glasgow has a strong tradition of internationalism that dates from the city’s transformation to a major trading and then industrial centre. The industries which made it globally famous however, are no longer the driving forces of its

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economy. Today, there is less evidence of international presence in most of Glasgow's business and institutions. Glasgow must compete - and learn from - other major UK and international cities. Competition is fierce in the conference tourism market where Glasgow has shown it can compete on an international basis. Elsewhere, this awareness is less obvious: Glasgow's profile is generally low, and where it is known, it is all-too-often for outdated or negative reasons. It is important that Glasgow thinks harder about its economic role and positive profile in the world. Glasgow must consider its place in a wider world and be aware of how others see it; it needs to address weaknesses and make better use of its strengths. The city has a strong asset in its successful brand, Glasgow: Scotland with Style, and a platform on which it can build. In short, Glasgow must survive in an economic environment which is both globalised and “virtualised” – one where businesses and their transactions are worldwide and frequently conducted through ICT. This offers considerable opportunities for initiatives such as Glasgow’s International Financial Services District. The Glasgow Tourism Strategy to 2016 complements these aims and its objectives include the following: In line with the city’s economic development strategy, A Step Change for Glasgow, the key objective is to maximize economic growth for the benefit of Glasgow’s citizens, while at the same time creating a more attractive environment for visitors and investors. The strategy complements Glasgow City Council’s key objectives and agenda for social renewal. It also embraces Scottish Enterprise’s tourism priorities of innovation, product development, business leadership development, and destination development. To achieve the vision for tourism, four key priorities have emerged from a process of research and consultation with stakeholders and industry representatives. The four strategic themes are: Image and Brand: a positive and unique image is a key influencer. People: Glasgow’s citizens are the city’s greatest asset and must benefit from tourism’s growth. Place: place attractiveness, accessibility and quality of environment are competitive drivers for a successful tourism destination. Product: this must be fresh, distinctive, innovative and appealing to target markets. These four themes will be underpinned by the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, collaboration and market research. 3.4 External Environment – Social The current Council Plan set out the following objectives which comprise a comprehensive set of social policy guidelines. ODHAZOVÁNÍ We have focused our programme over the next three years on delivering five main aims which we call our key objectives. These are: ODPADKU Pomozte nám to zastavit. > improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our services; Zavolejte na 0800 027 7027 Maximální pokuta je £2500 > increasing access to lifelong learning;

je to nase mesto - hrajte vasi úlohu > making Glasgow a cleaner, safer city; www.cleanglasgow.com > building a prosperous city; and > improving health and wellbeing. Key results from the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) show that deprived areas in Glasgow are generally improving, but that it remains the case that the city contains Scotland’s largest numbers and concentrations of such areas. Some parts of Glasgow have, in comparison to other UK cities,

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EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES WORK SOCIAL AND EDUCATION 3 Current External Situation HOLYROOD LEARNING COMMUNITY In June 2008, 23 senior pupils, accompanied by the Head teacher the highest percentage of the working age population unable to work through and four teachers visited incapacity. Those with low skills become trapped in low paid insecure jobs Zingwangwa Township in Malawi. which particularly impacts on child poverty: sustainable The group worked with the local employment is essential in order to address the inequality gap and lift people people and the Charity 'Scottish out of poverty. International Relief' to build three There is substantial and consistent evidence to show that better health is new classrooms, one of which inextricably linked to a buoyant economy: for example life expectancy trends was purpose-built for pupils with in low income areas are much lower than those in higher income areas. additional support needs. The Council is dedicated to ensuring that the improvements ongoing in the Holyrood has a very active Fair City have a positive impact on all areas. The international business, academic Trade and Enterprise Group who and cultural links supported by this strategy will aid in this process. suggested a backpack project for Malawi. The idea was simple, A further major social factor in Glasgow with a particular relevance to pupils were asked to fill an old international policy is that of migration, which can be split into three categories: school bag with everyday economic migration, above all from EU countries; other EU migration; and essentials and a cup, plate, spoon, asylum seekers and refugees. These have all contributed to the stabilisation of pencils, jotter, ruler, a toy, an old Glasgow’s population numbers, despite the historic demography whereby an 'T' shirt and short etc. ageing population has not been balanced by new births. 10 Primary Schools, three Nursery Schools and two Special Needs The contribution of the economic migrants to Glasgow’s labour market is Schools in the community all now probably essential in terms of numbers and skills. It is also the case that worked together on the project. there are social costs in terms of public services and the management of Holyrood Learning Community has community relations, both of which are more complex due to the greater now formally partnered with a number of cultures, languages and religions increasingly represented. secondary school and two primary However, the overall impact is that Glasgow is now a city with a younger, more schools in the township in Malawi diverse and vibrant population. and has received funding from Finally, two of Glasgow’s longstanding social issues continue to play a strong the British Council for the first negative role in any analysis: those of worklessness and alcohol and drugs year of their project. They are misuse. In both UK and international terms, these remain at high level. using their partners in Malawi as As a result, the Council and its partner agencies have great experience and a vehicle to embed a 'global considerable capacity in dealing with the consequences of these issues. dimension' in the curriculum, which raises awareness of the 3.5 External Environment – Technological many issues and challenges The economic environment described above is a direct result of the continuing faced by developing countries. technological revolution in which telematics and other communications They hope to obtain funding for a technologies have emerged as fundamental sources in the reorganisation of further two years from the British economic space. The way in which business is done is now based on the Council in 2009. In addition to internet and computer capacity; and this is reflected in the office accommodation the Malawi project, Holyrood and staff needs of companies. Secondary School has a strong International Education dimension At a Council level, Services can both learn from, and contribute to, the through their Modern Languages development of innovative service delivery, through networks and transnational department, which includes: projects, such as Land and Environmental Services commitment to POLIS, A French theatre group, a modern regarding Intelligent Transport Systems. languages ICT group, Italian work At a city level, the International Financial Services District has already experience for upper school, established itself in terms of attractiveness to inward investors both in the a Spanish school exchange, a S6 technological specification of new commercial developments, and in urban visit to the European Parliament and streetscape design. Participation in international networks will assist in in Strasbourg and participation in the City retaining this edge. British Council's International – Inclusion and Diversity project. The technological transformation of the global economy also continues to bring new products to market, creating knowledge-based industries and high level employment. In cities across the world, this has created interlinked and mutual support between city authorities, academic institutions and industrial investors. Supporting such partnerships will be vital in future. The acknowledgement of the effects of fossil fuels on climate change and the prospect of increasing costs for those fuels is now acting as a significant driver of new technologies and products to make full use of renewable energy sources. Scotland has the potential to make progress in the renewables sector, and Glasgow has the opportunity to benefit proportionately.

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Conclusions ST TIMOTHY’S PRIMARY SERVICES WORK SOCIAL AND EDUCATION SCHOOL In Glasgow and beyond OPPORTUNITIES St Timothy’s Primary School is The following opportunities could arise from the political, economic, social and known as “The International technological conditions described: Education School of Excellence”. > Commonwealth Games 2014 host city status as an opportunity to increase Situated in the East End of Glasgow’s global prestige and influence Glasgow, it draws its pupils from > Relationship with the Scottish Government and its international policy, a wide and varied catchment area, in respect to Glasgow’s place as Commonwealth Games host city, Malawi including some of the most and international development. socially deprived sections of > Scotland Week in North America, including expansion beyond the Glasgow. New York City base. The school has won numerous > DFiD and the Commonwealth Local Government Good Practice local and external prestigious Scheme, leading to further international development and civic diplomacy awards in which international opportunities in pursuit of the UN MDGs. education has featured. > EU expansion, creating opportunities in 12 new member states, mainly in They were the first primary school eastern and central Europe, with large potential markets. in Scotland to gain the British Council International School > EU funds, including Research and Development programmes that have Award. They won the Diamond had their budgets substantially increased for the 2007 to 2013 period. Award for Enterprise, Motorola > Recognition in the City’s Economic Strategy of the role that a strong Award for Enterprising Education, commitment to a comprehensive international dimension can play in and Investors in People growing the City economy. Certification. They have been > Build on success in conference and tourism markets, and the Scotland awarded the Glasgow “Excellence with Style brand. Award in International Education” > Progress in urban regeneration, which is in its own right a world class and have won the Primary School product. International Quiz twice. > Growth potential of skills and dynamism of diverse and dynamic In St Timothy’s International population, boosted by economic migration and other new Glaswegians. Education is as much part of the > World class expertise in tackling worklessness, drugs misuse etc., curriculum as mathematics or from long experience and established good practice. language. It has been included in their School Improvement Plan > New products and applications of technological excellence in universities for years and is now firmly and industry. imbedded in the learning > Benefits of innovative technology-based applications in Council services experiences offered to children. and other public sector management They firmly believe that as …. > Potential to develop new fuel efficient products and services. “Young people will spend their THREATS lives as citizens in an increasingly international world.” They must The following threats and challenges could arise from the political, economic, be equipped to make correct life social and technological conditions described: choices and take life chances! > The post-2008 recession could continue, with lasting and profound effects on the local, national and international economies. > EU expansion presents new competitors for global resources. > EU Structural Funds will be cut from Glasgow and transferred to the newer member states. > International competition will grow as globalisation increases. > Failing international presence of Glasgow’s industries > Outdated or negative image threat to international profile > Persistent deprivation, worklessness and drugs misuse, threatening to hamper international performance > Social costs of migrant populations regarding health, education etc. > Possible transient benefits from economic migrants, who may return to their country of origin leaving skills and personnel shortages > Threat of increased costs due to high fuel costs and requirements for lower carbon emissions, and increased import penetration from more advanced producers.

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GLASGOW’S INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN STRATEGY 2009 TO 2012 4 Strategic Objectives

EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES WORK SOCIAL AND EDUCATION There is a sound and proven business case for international work by the SHAWLANDS ACADEMY Council, both in conjunction with partners and through its own Services. Roads to Equality At a strategic level, the most obvious advantage is to project a dynamic and Shawlands Academy has been outward looking image to the world: Glasgow’s original position of prosperity involved with Comenius 1 since was founded on global trade, as the “Second City of the Empire.” 1999. ‘Roads to Equality’, a Involvement in international programmes, network and projects has the Comenius 1 School Development benefit of keeping the City’s profile high for the right reasons, thereby Project, ran from 2003 until 2006. contributing to competitiveness. Prior to that the school coordinated For example, the programme of inward delegations reinforced the message ‘Different Languages – One Spirit’ that Glasgow has one of the leading urban regeneration programmes in and, finishing in 2007, ‘Active Europe. Likewise, the visits of the EUROCITIES Knowledge Society and Citizens of a Clean Europe’. Economic Development Forums attracted over 100 experts in their respective fields. ‘Roads to Equality’ highlights included the provision of Race The Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CGLF) has identified the Equality training for headteachers following advantages for councils to be involved in international development from five European schools and > Sharing skills and good practice in-service training for Shawlands Academy Staff delivered by > Improving working relations with local communities members of the Comenius > Honing interpersonal skills of staff development group and also by two students from their partner > Developing educational skills school in Norway. The project > Promoting trade was also showcased and presented by two pupils at the launch of the > Increasing awareness of cultural diversity Comenius Lifelong Learning > Improving partnerships with ethnic groups Programme at the Foreign Office in January 2007. Many of these apply equally to the broader international agenda. Moreover, Glasgow is quoted by the CLGF as an example of good practice in this The initiative also produced policy context, and the SOLACE journal carried an article by LP&IO staff putting that guidelines for the development of case in the light of the Council’s experience. At a service level, this article bilingualism and race equality in demonstrates the value to the Council and its partners, for example, the IT each partner school and the staff from the Chief Executive’s department which visited Africa to install development of materials to donated equipment and train local people in its use, as the following extract develop thinking skills in shows. Geography. IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY One significant highlight was the installation of a ceramic mural in > IT and building trades staff involved in the project reported an improvement one of the partner schools in the in partnership skills, managing relationships and problem-solving. Czech republic: ‘The Water of > Sharing information and experience with overseas partners helps local Life’. The mural reflected the joint authorities improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of their own services. co-operation and aims for unity and working together within the STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING Comenius programme. > Council officers who worked on challenges associated with resolving technical issues…reported an improvement in their own understanding of different cultures. This has enabled them to work more effectively within their own community. > Staff appreciated the innovative training opportunities and experienced an improvement in a number of subject areas ranging from management development to practical skills. PROMOTING STRONGER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS > The project included visits to a number of community partnerships in Glasgow. The interest shown by the (African) officers in the work being undertaken by local people encouraged those involved to look more closely at their achievements and helped to boost civic pride, community self esteem and personal confidence.

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WOODACRE NURSERY SERVICES WORK SOCIAL AND EDUCATION SCHOOL Woodacre Nursery School is The same outcomes are shown in the involvement of Social Work Services in pioneering International Education the EU’s Institution Building Partnership Programme (IBPP), where drugs by embedding it into every area misuse staff were able to learn from Russian colleagues. The SWS team of the pre-5 curriculum. leader reported as follows: The school has been involved in There have been a number of spin-offs for Glasgow City Council. These have an e-Twinning project for the past included:- three years with a school in Milan and this has resulted in a variety A refocusing on family-based therapies in the city of Glasgow as part of our of life experiences being shared commitment to recovery and rehabilitation. Family-based therapies are the between the two countries. cornerstone of the Russian approach, but in the UK and European Union have Each annual project enabled the diminished in their importance and been somewhat neglected. In Glasgow, school to further embed we now intend to use our cross-learning to renew our interest in and develop international education in the evidence based family focussed therapy services as part of our carers strategy; curriculum, for example, sharing information on the cultural The use of telephone helplines and outreach services to engage with young festivals celebrated, knowledge people at a much earlier stage in the development of drugs and alcohol of the different types of food misuse. Glasgow is re-visiting how we use such measures as part of our eaten, the differing curricular Out-of-Hours and Assertive Outreach strategies within the Addiction Service. activities undertaken in each The next phase of our Partnership will involve a second wave of potential school, the changing weather professional development exchanges which will be largely self-financing. patterns and many more. Due to These include exploring the potential of a joint venture between the Royal the age group of the children College of Psychiatrists and the State University of Rostov, Medical School involved (3-5 years) the use of and a joint venture between the University of Glasgow, Centre of Continuing ICT equipment helped to bridge Adult Education and the Rostov Pedagological Institute which is responsible the gap between the countries for the professional development training of Psychological and Social Services and helped the children to staff. appreciate that they were conversing with another country. The above has been an excellent example of levering in external resources Furthermore the use of mascots through the European Union, building capacity in emerging democracies, such has enabled the children to as in the Russian Federation and utilising Glasgow’s expertise in this field with understand that their ‘friend’ its Twin City partners in Rostov-on-Don. The spin-offs for both Rostov-on-Don was living life in another country. and Glasgow City are extensive and work continues to plan a second phase The children visited the Bear of wider Partnership work with a more diverse range of stakeholders. Factory in Glasgow to create a The business case for the International Strategy is therefore based on concrete new friend that they named outcomes which benefit Glasgow and the services which its citizens receive, Hamish. He was given a warm delivered on a cost-effective basis, especially using resources levered in set of clothes and a kilt and sent through mechanisms such as IBPP and the Commonwealth Local Government off to Italy to meet the Italian Good Practice Scheme. school children. They then sent Raffaella, an Italian cuddly toy. 4.1 Objectives This immediately facilitated the Glasgow City Council can continue to build on its strategic approach and its sharing of information as the practical record in international relations to support its social, economic, cul- children were able to relate to the escapades of their ‘friend’ abroad. tural and sporting aims. In doing so, it will address the issues and challenges ”This resulted in a wide range of set out in the analysis shown earlier, and will provide support to the City’s activities that depicted life in Italy wider internationalisation objectives. or Scotland and helped to foster The following three high level objectives will help develop this approach: the children’s understanding of the world and Scotland’s place in > To build Glasgow’s role as host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games it. by developing relationships with Commonwealth countries. This objective explicitly defines the Council’s role in relation to its position The children have been using a of host city; the timescale for its delivery; and acknowledges the importance vast range of technology within of the Commonwealth member countries as well as of the 2014 Games. the project for example email, It is therefore the root of the new Strategy’s title: “Glasgow: Commonwealth webcams, digital photographs, City.” This will involve a range of relationships, as will be most appropriate scanning pictures and creating in the case of specific countries. It will acknowledge that the City can offer simple PowerPoint presentations support to and learn from less developed Commonwealth nations through often enhanced with audio clips its international development activities whilst also seeking to cement which is an excellent medium of relationships with other Commonwealth nations which are now home to communication for early years prosperous Scottish and Glasgow immigrant communities. children.

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4 Strategic Objectives

> To enhance the City’s image, impact and presence internationally. This objective remains from the 2004 to 2007 strategy. It remains a strategic aim to continue to pursue the same goal of competitiveness and generally to ensure that Glasgow is known to deliver in the global economy. It remains the case that the City’s performance in terms of the number and quality of international transactions undertaken by its institutions (including Further and Higher Education) and businesses will be important. The City Council can assist in this process both in terms of its own activities and of offering civic leadership through the offices of Lord Provost, Leader of the Council, and other senior elected members. For example, the City Council can also add prestige to international events and visits by continuing use its assets, (eg City Chambers, Kelvingrove, the Burrell, art venues and architecture) and the provision of appropriate civic hospitality, as a way of making any visit to Glasgow memorable. In addition, it is expected that these aspects will be aligned with wider Council objectives as set out in the Council Plan 2008 to 2011. > To play a full role in the Internationalisation Strand of the “Step Change for Glasgow” economic strategy. This final objective makes explicit the relationship with the ten-year economic strategy “A Step Change for Glasgow”. This was published in November 2006, and acknowledges that: “Like other ambitious and far-sighted organisations, Glasgow needs to devise a comprehensive internationalisation strategy…it is much more than simply a strategy for marketing existing products and services…” The subsequent draft action plan to support the Step Change strategy identified the potential for a city-wide partnership to pursue this internationalisation agenda. The Lord Provost and International Office has the expertise to support any such partnership. Delivery of the appropriate policies and programmes to achieve these aims will depend upon several important factors. Externally, these are the key international relationships, for example with key twin cities and important international networks; internally, they are the policy and delivery expertise of the Council itself. 4.2 Programmes The former International Strategy was based on five programmes which supported its three high level objectives. These were as follows: > Competitive City > Twinning > Small World > Networks and information > Planning and resources. For 2009 to 2012, the programmes have been adapted to meet the needs of the new objectives and will be as follows: > Commonwealth and International Development will succeed the former Small World programme, reflecting the specific commitment of the Council that Lord Provost will have responsibility for relations with Commonwealth countries, supported by the LP&IO. It will reflect established relationships with Pakistan, Malawi, Sri Lanka and South Africa, and will make the best possible use will be made of such resources as the Commonwealth Local Government Good Practice Scheme and the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund. In doing so, it will also seek to create beneficial relationships between the more and less prosperous cities of the Commonwealth. This programme will also reflect the Lord Provost’s status as Lord Lieutenant and the Queen’s representative, who is the key diplomatic representative of Glasgow. In addition, it will it will use the Lord Provost’s civic role to make links with the residents of Glasgow with backgrounds, and to support their involvement.

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> Twin Cities and Global Citizenship will succeed the former Twinning programme. It will include activities to meet the Strategy’s objectives in conjunction with Glasgow’s eight twin cities. In addition, it is intended that the programme will continue to support inward delegations and study visits from other countries and cities wherever possible. The programme will also include activities to promote good governance and civil society in newly emerging democracies. > Global Glasgow will operate in succession to the former Competitive City and Networks and Information programmes. It will therefore include external relations to the new Step Change strategy and inputs to the globalisation agenda as Glasgow seeks to expand its profile, especially into crucial markets such as North America and China. In the important area of business tourism, the Council will support the conference and congress operations by continuing to provide appropriate welcomes and hospitality. The Council will also seek to work with business and academic partners to foster and promote Glasgow’s global reach in their respective fields. The Council will also seek to confirm its international standing through seeking such acknowledgement as World Heritage (Antonine Wall, Charles Rennie Mackintosh) and UNICEF (City of Music) status. Internally, Council services will be informed of opportunities for participation in international projects and programmes, especially those attracting EU support, and networks such as EUROCITIES and its forums. 4.3 Action Planning This International Strategy to 2012 Glasgow – Commonwealth City is a set of corporate objectives to be carried out by City Council Services and, where appropriate, its partners. The three programmes – Commonwealth & International Development; Twin Ciites and Global Citizenship; and Global Glasgow – will be supported by action plans, which will be developed by those Services and partners. These will then form a key part of the monitoring, evaluation and transparency process, contributing to website and activity reports. 4.4 Monitoring, Evaluation and Transparency Monitoring and evaluation of activity will be achieved through: > Bonn Index updates > A second on-line survey will be developed and completed in 2011 which will provide a measure of change against the previous survey which will become a baseline. This will also provide a useful tool for advising the drafting of the subsequent Strategy. > Appropriate pages on the Council’s website will be developed, to ensure that the Glasgow public and the wider world are aware of the activities undertaken in pursuit of the Strategy. This could also be constructed with web links to the sites of partners, thus becoming a portal to Glasgow’s international activity. > A final Activity Report will be prepared at the termination of the strategy period in 2012. In other years, the website will offer a less formal but comprehensive summary of activity. > Further development of monitoring information, based on project outputs and programme outcomes will be carried out where appropriate and published in the activity reports and on the website.

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NOTES

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NOTES

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Glasgow’s International and European Strategy 2009 to 2012 is published by the Lord Provost's and International Office, Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow G1 1DU. Phone +44 141 287 4276 Fax +44 141 287 5705 Email [email protected] www.glasgow.gov.uk COMMONWEALTH AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT / TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP / GLOBAL GLASGOW /

ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012

Malawi South Africa Nuremberg Dalian Marseilles Turin Bethlehem Havana Rostov-0n-Don Lahore Toronto Chicago New York 2 COMMONWEALTH AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This Activity Report is the first which has been produced subsequent to the publication of Glasgow’s International and European Strategy to cover the 2009-2012 period. It is also the first International Activity Report which has been produced following the merger of the former International Office with the Lord Provost’s Office. ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 3

COMMONWEALTH AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This programme reflects the Council’s emphasis on the Commonwealth and builds on established links, for example, those with Malawi and South Africa. 4 COMMONWEALTH AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MALAWI

Glasgow’s relationship with Malawi has gone from strength to strength since its beginnings in 2004. The collaborative nature of the partnership ensures that all projects are planned and delivered in partnership with Malawi organisations. The Council is also a member of the Scotland- Malawi Partnership and has made several presentations on Glasgow’s work in Malawi at awareness raising events organised by the Partnership.

Funding for the Council’s work in Malawi The following projects were some of comes primarily from a share of the monies the highlights of 2009-2011: raised at the Lord Provost’s annual Burns Supper. The following amounts have been donated since 2009 2009: (2009) £24,240.50, (2010) £47,293.92, n Creation of a Library and IT learning centre and (2011) £35,277.85 - totalling £106,812.27 at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe. This was done in partnership with the Royal Since 2004, Glasgow City Council has College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow. shipped approximately 1200 items of medical equipment, 4300 boxes of n Delivery of a programme of IT training to medical supplies and more than 1000 medical and administrative staff at Kamuzu desktop computers to Malawi. Central Hospital in Lilongwe. n Installation of IT equipment in a selected number of primary schools in Lilongwe, identified by the local Education Authority. PC’s supplied by Access (Glasgow) LLP.

n Delivery of a programme of IT training to teaching staff in Lilongwe, identified through the local Education Authority. ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 5

2010 BUILDING PROJECTS IT PROJECTS n Construction of new prosthetics and orthotics n Cabling of new hospital teaching block and workshop and clinic and refurbishment of nurses’ accommodation and installation of IT existing Clinic in partnership with the charity, equipment at Daeyang Luke Mission Hospital 500 Miles. in Lilongwe. This was undertaken by staff from Access (Glasgow) LLP. Working in partnership with the charity 500 Miles and following extensive discussions with the n Creation of an IT learning centre at Dzaleka Ministry of Health, a decision was taken to build Refugee Camp near Lilongwe. a new larger prosthetics and orthotics workshop n Delivery of a programme of enhanced IT training and clinic in Kamuzu Central Hospital. This was as to teaching and technical staff in Lilongwe and a result of the outstanding success of the existing Dedza City Assemblies. clinic, built by City Building (Glasgow) LLP in 2008. The new clinic is now up and running and has n Delivery of a programme of enhanced IT training enabled a greater number of patients to be fitted to medical and technical staff at Daeyang Luke Mission Hospital and Kamuzu Central Hospital. with prosthetic and orthotic devices. n Installation of IT equipment at Dedza City Assembly.

n Delivery of IT training to local government employees, identified by Dedza City Assembly. 6 COMMONWEALTH AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2011

IT projects/vehicle maintenance n Meeting with the Health Ministry and relevant n Installing IT equipment at Teacher hospital officials at Kamuzu Central Hospital Development Centres and in a selected number to discuss and plan for a capital build project of primary schools in Lilongwe, identified by in 2012. the Ministry of Education. PC’s supplied by n Meeting with YOSSA (Youth Support for Social Access (Glasgow) LLP. Advancement) to discuss future support. n Installing IT equipment at Dzaleka Refugee Camp near Lilongwe. The Lord Provost’s Malawi Fund has also n Delivering a programme of enhanced IT supported the following projects in Malawi:- training to teaching and technical staff in Lilongwe and Dedza. n Mary’s Meals. n Delivery of IT training to local government n Education Services (Malawi Leaders of Learning employees, identified by Lilongwe and Dedza – a teacher training initiative). City Assemblies. n Visits by staff and pupils from Holyrood n Delivering a workshop in vehicle maintenance Secondary to assist with the refurbishment to mechanics from Lilongwe City Assembly and building of schools. by Field Service Engineer, HEIL Europe (company who supplied refuse collection n Exchange between Glasgow Scottish Youth vehicles at reduced cost which Glasgow City Parliament members and the National Youth Council shipped to Malawi in 2008). In the Council of Malawi. spirit of partnership, the costs for bringing engineer from HEIL were met by Lilongwe City Assembly. n Updating Library and IT learning centre at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe. n Creation of a second IT learning centre at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe. n Visit to Hansen’s Disease management centre at Liwonde to discuss ongoing and future support. n Monitoring visits to orphan feeding programmes; previous IT installations and projects currently being funded through the Lord Provost’s Malawi Fund. n Progressing a pilot solid waste management project with Lilongwe City Assembly. ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 7

SOUTH AFRICA

Glasgow has a long and proud tradition of support for the people of South Africa.

Highlights of the Council’s support have included:- n The Freedom of the City awarded (in his The project drew on the skills and expertise of absence) to Nelson Mandela in the City both partners to find sustainable solutions to local Chambers by the Lord Provost in 1981. problems and aimed to impact on other councils in n The Launch of Glasgow to London walk to South Africa facing similar situations. free Mandela. Oliver Tambo, Archbishop Trevor In November 2007, the project culminated in a Huddleston and the then Lord Provost attended technical partnership, signed between Glasgow a huge rally in Glasgow Green in 1988. and Amathole and aimed at strengthening n Nelson Mandela collects the Freedoms of all UK the relationship between the two authorities. Cities in person at a special ceremony in the City This was effected through a Memorandum Chambers in 1993. of Understanding (M.O.U.), which set out the objectives and scope of the Partnership. n City Chambers acts as polling station for South African exiles to vote in April 1994. Following on from the success of this project, in 2010, Glasgow City Council was awarded a further In 2005, Glasgow entered into partnership with £40 000 from the CLGGPS to work with Amathole Amathole District Municipality on the Eastern on establishing:- Cape to undertake a project, funded through the Commonwealth Local Government Good n A joint Marketing and Tourism agency. Practice Scheme (CLGGPS). Senior officers from n Developing Community Benefit clauses.

Glasgow City Council worked with colleagues n Developing a Credit Union. from Amathole to assist in the establishment n The creation of a sustainable lighting project. and strengthening of Amathole’s Local Economic Development Agency and their Urban Renewal The partnership was also extended to include Programme. Buffalo City Municipality on the Eastern Cape. 8

TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Glasgow’s twinning programme continues to grow in strength, both in terms of the scope and range of activities and the individuals involved. The increasing number of projects involving different sectors of the City illustrate the way in which Glasgow and its people continue to value and support twinning activities. ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 9

NUREMBERG

Glasgow celebrated 25 years of twinning with Nuremberg in 2010. The year was marked by a series of projects all celebrating the long lasting friendship and cooperation between the two Cities. 10 TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Nuremberg Burns Supper/ These included:- Glasgow Cultural Weekend n a collaboration between fashion and design January 2011 marked 20 years of Nuremberg students from North Glasgow College and the hosting a Burns Supper. In the spirit of partnership, Berufschule Nuremberg which culminated in Glasgow brings the musical entertainment joint fashion shows in Glasgow and Nuremberg. to Nuremberg, in the form of local musicians and dancers and the all important haggis and n “Augenblicke/Moments“ – this joint project, Nuremberg supplies the enthusiasm and love of between photography students from Glasgow all things Scottish. The weekend is a celebration Metropolitan College and an adult education of Scottish cultural life and an opportunity for class in Nuremberg documented, through Glasgow to showcase its attractions. The venue photography, events and cultural life within is the Grand Hotel in Nuremberg who provide the two city centres. This photo documentary very generous sponsorship every year. Glasgow of Glasgow and Nuremberg was exhibited in plays its part by sourcing a whisky company to Glasgow and Nuremberg. provide the liquid refreshments and promote one of Scotland’s most successful exports. The annual n In October 2010, Glasgow welcomed a cross event also enables the Lord Provost to meet with party delegation from Nuremberg, led by the his counterpart, the Lord Mayor of Nuremberg and Lord Mayor of Nuremberg, Dr. Ulrich Maly. The discuss issues of mutual interest. delegation visited a number of twinning projects and also took part in a policy summit is aimed at stimulating discussion between Glasgow and Nuremberg on how local authorities are dealing Image: with the impact of the recession. Photography exhibition – Nuremberg TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 11

DALIAN Following up on a promise made by the Mayor of Dalian, during a successful visit to Dalian in 2008, led by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Bob Winter, Glasgow welcomed world-class badminton coach, Mrs Qinghua Song from Dalian to Glasgow in September 2011. Mrs Song has previously coached 2004 and 2008 Olympic ladies single champion Zhang Ning and 2008 Olympic champions Du Jing and Yu Yang.

Interpretation for Mrs Song was provided by It is hoped that this visit will be the start of a Ms Hao Chen who provided translation at the partnership between the Liaoning Table tennis Beijing Olympics and by Jenny Chang who and Badminton Management Centre in Dalian teaches Mandarin at Hillhead High School and Glasgow School of Sport which will ultimately (a Confucius Hub). lead to young players from GSOS spending time in Dalian being coached by world champion The coach spent two weeks at the Glasgow badminton players. School of Sport delivering badminton coaching to pupils and offering a coaching masterclass for the benefit of staff. 12 TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

MARSEILLES

Education Partnership As part of the Memorandum of Understanding St Brigid’s Primary and Hillhead Primary. All schools signed by both Education Departments in Glasgow were very impressed by the professionalism and and Marseilles, in both 2009 and 2010, Glasgow commitment of these teachers. They integrated welcomed a number of Marseilles teachers very well and took part in the life of the schools through the Jules Verne Programme, initiated by they attended. the French government. The programme aims to Whilst Glasgow has gained enormously from encourage and facilitate French teachers taking a having these teachers, there is also the expectation year’s leave of absence to work in an educational that they return to France with increased skills and establishment abroad. knowledge which will be a benefit to their own The teachers are not necessarily language schools and authorities. specialists, though do have a good command One of the benefits of this partnership is the of English. Their subject expertise is therefore a social, cultural and human aspects it brings. The secondary field in which they can offer service. two cities can share so many perspectives on Interdisciplinary working is very much facilitated vision and strategies in the fields of education and by having such dual experts. We see within a training pedagogical and cultural areas which aim programme like this Curriculum for Excellence in to develop fruitful educational links between the action, with the added benefit of international communities and the staff who work to further education at its core. pupil’s life chances and the opening up of our Glasgow was delighted to welcome two secondary schools and our education systems to Europe and two primary teachers to Glasgow. Holyrood and the world. Secondary Hillhead High. TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 13

Comenius Regio 2011-2013 Metropolitan College / Hotel Lycee Glasgow has been successful in securing £90,000 In 2010/2011, Glasgow Metropolitan College funding from the Comenius Regio European and the Lycee Hotelliere in Marseilles developed funding programme. an exchange programme, Students and staff took part in a visit to Glasgow which involved The project will seek to enhance teaching practice attending Glasgow Metropolitan and seeing their for migrant, newly arrived young people through facilities, working in Scholars Kitchen and Jamies the exchange of best practice and expertise in Italian. The return trip saw students from Glasgow both Local Authorities with respect to primary / visit Marseilles’s Lycee Hotelliere and a course in secondary transition for newly arrived students making the Marseilles speciality of Boillabaisse, in Glasgow and Marseilles. It will devise a new visiting the cities fish and meat markets with a Teacher Education component within the post cultural programme included. graduate diploma in education at the University of Glasgow in conjunction with the university of It is intended to continue this exchange Aix en Provence. programme as both the students and staff found the project to very worthwhile and contributed It will utilise and disseminate nationally the greatly to their coursework and experience in their experience of second language teachers and hospitality and catering course Local Authority policies on anti discrimination to enhance policy and practice with respect to They hope to develop this exchange beyond their inclusive methodology in schools. The initiative catering school to look at Tourism and to make will equip teachers to better meet the needs this a long term partnership securing European of pupils within a diverse European school funding through Leonardo. community. The model will be transferable and applicable to various contexts and will include opportunities for student teachers at devised seminars in both Local Authorities. The initiative will introduce pupils to active learning opportunities through which they gain an understanding of tolerance and respect and the benefits of working in a cooperative way with peers from other cultures. These methods will form a holistic framework, improving classroom practice for migrant, bilingual pupils within diverse European schools in the context of identified school inspectorate action points. 14 TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

TURIN: 2010/11 TORINOver SOS Planet was a worldwide exhibition’s project created through the partnership between the twin cities Glasgow and Torino. The exhibition was also hosted in other foreign countries for a one year period duration.

The entire project consists of two different parts: n One exhibition in Torino and Glasgow with big The main exhibition’s topic dealt with environment installations and site specific works, at San Pietro and all its aspects - the language of art, with its in Vincoli place and Porta Nuova metro stations, strong communicative impact, has the power to and at Trongate 103 and Buchanan Station. reach individuals and prompt them to rethink their habits and lifestyles so as to eventually lead n Another project, called 1YEAR MESSAGE!, towards a comprehensive improvement of the a video art project with 20 international artists, current situation. The exhibition aimed to reveal which involves many different metro stations: possible new scenarios, dwell on simple issues and Torino – Glasgow topics, promote a campaign of awareness through Lille different places and peculiar situations such as the Cologne underground of many worldwide cities. Nagoya Salt Lake City Sestriere TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 15

SMART Cities Glasgow City Council is in discussions to develop the Sustainable Energy Action Plan which sets out a partnership with Turin, through the Covenant of actions that could lead to innovate and produce Mayors agreement and the SMART cities initiative. high technology, to reduce energy consumption of buildings, to promote clean transport Glasgow’s Lord Provost addressed the Covenant of and improve the overall quality of life of its Mayors Conference & Signing Ceremony on the inhabitants, increasingly limiting emissions. theme of Sustainable Glasgow at the European Commission in 2010. Under the Covenant of Both cities are looking to develop partnerships Mayors initiative, Glasgow submitted a Strategic with other European cities to enhance their local Energy Action Plan (SEAP) which has now been sustainability policies within a major European officially approved by the Covenant of Mayors. framework and will discuss the potential of funding opportunities through the European Like Glasgow, Turin took part in the initiative of Commissions DG Energy and the Smart Cities & the European Commission Covenant of Mayors, Communities Initiative. being one of the first Italian Cities to commit to this. Glasgow was the first UK city to win a grant from the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge initiative. The grant provides Glasgow with access to IBM’s top experts to analyse and recommend ways the city 150 Year Unification of Italy can become an even better place in which to live, celebrations work and play. 2011 saw Italy celebrate 150 years of its The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge is a competitive unification, which led to the creation of the Italian grant program in which IBM is awarding a total nation. Glasgow’s twin city of Turin had a year- of $50 million worth of technology and services long programme of events to mark this important to 100 municipalities worldwide over the next date in Italian history. three years. Glasgow was invited to participate in these Glasgow hopes to maximise the tremendous celebrations and held a Glasgow day. This was a opportunities to develop low-carbon energy great opportunity for the City to be showcased technologies, efficient homes, the provision of with information on the city, a photo exhibition, affordable heat and the creation of sustainable musicians, dancers and performing artists. communities. By reducing energy costs and Glasgow City Council worked with a number of helping to tackle fuel poverty for poorer sections partners to ensure a successful programme and to of our community we hope to have a real impact take full potential of promoting Glasgow to on improving people’s health and quality of life. an international audience. Similarly Turin launched a local initiative, Torino The Lord Provost has accepted an invitation Smart City, devoted to enhancing their local from the Mayor of Turin to visit Turin in sustainability policies. The City Council approved November 2011. 16 TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

BETHLEHEM

Education Programme From 2010 Glasgow has established a number of The teachers and pupils work through a number partnerships with schools in Bethlehem. Following of subjects and areas such as; a Christmas Card Exchange between the schools, n Introductory letters / emails for the pupils both cities are developing further educational links to get to know each other. and building stronger partnerships with the schools. n Geography; Google maps, describing where they live, looking at where their cities and Due to mobility constraints, the most practical way countries are situated. to develop these partnerships was through using IT and the Web. Glasgow’s International Education n Developing a presentation on My City. Office is encouraging the schools to develop the n Cookery; health & wellbeing. links through the E-TWINNING initiative through the British Council. n Music.

n History.

n Free time and social activities. TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 17

Faten Nastas visit The city hosted Faten Nastas, an artist and lecturer A lecture also took place at St Mungo Museum. from our Twin City of Bethlehem to participate in a The lecture gave an overview of the concerns series of visits and talks throughout the City. of contemporary Palestinian artists and cultural centres, with a highlight about the Diyar Faten studied contemporary art at Bezalel Academy Consortium. of Arts and Design in Jerusalem and is currently the Chairperson of the Visual Arts Department at Dar Glasgow was also keen that Faten met with al-Kalima College in Bethlehem. arts organisations (Trongate 103 / Sculpture Studios / Wasps / Glasgow School of Art) and During her visit Faten visited a number of schools artists throughout the city to discuss potential already linked with Bethlehem and was looking to partnerships and projects between the two cities. strengthen these partnerships and take as much It is hoped that the Centre for Contemporary Art information back to the schools in Bethlehem. and Trongate 103 can have a Palestinian Artist as part of their Artist in Residence programme. 18 TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Images: Cuban artists at work in Havana and at the Wasps Hanson Street Space. HAVANA

Tengo Frio 2010 – Residency and Exhibition

Tengo Frio is a Scottish based artist led group. After making new work in the studios of the art With funding assistance from the Lord Provost & school the three artists exhibited at WASPS Hanson International Office they organised a residency Street Space. The exhibition was called Parabolas and exhibition for three Cuban Artists in Glasgow Del Agua, or Parabols of the Water. during the summer of 2010. The aim of the project was to bring to Glasgow contemporary work that The preview was on the 31st July and there was a has originated from a culture where collaboration good turn out due to good press coverage. There and collectivism have been intrinsic to its artistic was also an exhibition produced along with the identity. The artists - Lester Alvarez Meno, Elizabaht exhibition that had essays written by Lester Alvarez Cervino and Jose Eduardo Yaque Llorente arrived Meno, Elvia Castro and the directors of Tengo Frio, from Havana on June 30th 2010 and took up their Florrie James and Maria Paz Gardiazabal. All texts artist’s residency at the Glasgow School of Art. were translated in Spanish and English in the catalogue. TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 19

Guantanamera: Cuba and Miami. Two film producers from Glasgow School of Art (Ross Birrell and David Harding) received funding from the Lord Provost & International office and the Scottish Arts Council to make a film of the most famous of Cuban songs, Guantanamera. The film was shot on location in Cuba and Miami (January 2009). The original lyrics to the song Guantanamera (lit: ‘the woman of Guantanamo’) are derived from the Versos Sencillos of the Cuban national poet, revolutionary and martyr, José Martí (1853-1895). An inspirational nationalist hero who fought to liberate Cuba from oppression, José Martí is claimed by both pro-Castro and anti-Castro Cubans alike. In Cuba the song was recorded in Guantanamo by the Changui singer Jose Andres Ramirez (Changui Guantanamo) and broadcast on the Il Proposito cultural programme on Foxa radio station in Havana. In Miami the song was recorded by the famous Cuban-American singer, Renee Barrios and was attempted to be broadcast on the right wing Government station, Radio Marti to mark the anniversary of Marti’s birth. After permission had been denied, at the last minute the song was broadcast on the US- Cuban radio station, La Poderosa who devoted an hour-long phone-in show to the project. 20 TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Image: Young gymnasts arriving in Glasgow from Rostov-on-Don’s Olympic Reserve School Num 2.

ROSTOV-ON-DON World Leaders in Artistic Gymnastics Establish Exchange Programme with Glasgow.

The gymnastics project that was established in The Glasgow School of Sport is Scotland’s national 2008 between Rostov-on-Don and Glasgow has sports school based at Bellahouston Academy in been a great success and will continue at least Glasgow. This exchange programme provides a until the Commonwealth Games in 2014. The unique opportunity for Glasgow to learn from Olympic Reserve School in Russia was founded in world leaders in the sport of artistic gymnastics. 1948, this school specialises in the sport of artistic It is a partnership of excellence that has already gymnastics. Its focus is to produce gymnasts who raised the standards of performance both within will compete and win at the Olympic Games and it Glasgow and Scotland. does just that! Olympic Prize Winners include Elena Produnova (Olympic Prize Winner 2000) and Maria Kruychkova (Olympic Prize Winner Athens 2004). This Olympic Reserve School is regarded as one of the best gymnastic complexes in Russia. TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 21

Celtic-Cossack Connections The twinning connection between Glasgow and students of the two conservatoires and the Rostov-on-Don proved again to be the stimulus audiences of Glasgow and Rostov-on-Don. for an 18 month music project between the The resultant programme featured new scores two city conservatoires. Funded by a major EU by young composers and the world premiere of grant from the Institution Building Partnership the original version of Sergei Prokofiev‘s opera Programme, Celtic-Cossack Connections was an ‘War and Peace‘, reconstructed from manuscript ambitious, collaborative programme of musical and sources by Dr Rita McAllister, a Prokofiev scholar educational exchange between Scotland and the of international repute. Don Region of Southern Russia. The programme The students, graduates and staff of the two of activities was delivered by a partnership conservatoires also benefited from an extensive which included the Rostov State Rachmaninov exchange programme. Based on common and Conservatory, the Rostov State Musical Theatre, complementary specialisms in musical training the Russian Cultural Centre, Glasgow, Scottish and performance skills, the exchanges provided Opera and the Rostov Jazz School, the project teaching and learning opportunities through was led by the Royal Scottish Academy of Music a mixture of one-to-one mentoring; master and Drama. classes; workshops; peer appraisal; ensemble A core feature of the collaboration was the staging rehearsal and productions. A series of innovative, of joint and reciprocal performances in a range multi-disciplinary workshops was delivered of musical disciplines including opera, strings, for students of schools and music colleges traditional music and jazz. In the development of in the Don Region and Central Belt of Scotland. the project, emphasis was placed on the staging For Scotland and Russia, the project provided of productions which could not be undertaken an international platform to promote national by any one institution acting alone, and on the cultural and educational assets. showcasing of repertoire less familiar to the

Image: Celtic Cossack Connections. 22 TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

LAHORE

Both cities have identified a number of key areas for potential collaboration between Scottish Academia and establishments in Lahore. One area under discussion is training the trainers on the use and integration of social media in core business activities. This is an ongoing process involving building partnerships with UK Institutions both academic and non academic. TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 23

NORTH AMERICA Lord Provost Visit to North America, April 2011.

Toronto April 2011. The visit to Toronto was a trade mission by SCDI, The Lord Provost was interviewed by the Toronto which has responsibility for Glasgow’s international Post, which carried a half-page photograph and trade programme. The mission was joined by a interview article on 5th April, in which the Lord number of small and medium-sized enterprises Provost was able to make the following points: (SMEs), all of which had interest in Toronto and n The strength of links between Canada Canada. and Glasgow. The companies were all very appreciative of the n How their common heritage should be used to Lord Provost’s presence. Business to business develop stronger business relationships. follow-ups to the meetings on the mission have now identified potential orders in the region of n The common interest in the 2014 £1 million for the companies concerned. This was Commonwealth Games. widely reported in the Scottish and Glasgow press. n Glasgow’s record of regeneration. While in Toronto, the LP and the trade mission The visit to Toronto also included a Tartan Day members met David Mundell MP, Scotland Office dinner held by the Scottish Studies Association, Minister, who welcomed the initiative. Together, which was a first class opportunity to engage with the Lord Provost and trade mission with Mr the expatriate and diaspora Scottish communities. Mundell attended a detailed briefing by the UK Consulate’s Commercial Attaché, who described The Lord Provost was guest of honour and gave a current trade conditions with Ontario and Canada speech of greetings which was well received. as well as future potential opportunities. These include those which may arise from ongoing talks between the Canadian federal government and the European Union regarding a possible bilateral trade agreement; NAFTA regulations may also provide access to wider North American markets, especially in the USA. 24 TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

Joined up approach to selling Glasgow 11 April 2011 Last week a twelve strong delegation of Glasgow companies visited Toronto with the Scottish Council for Development & Industry during Scotland Week and flew the flag for the promotion of our city. Glasgow has a long standing relationship with Toronto and there are a number of synergies between our economies including financial services, sustainability, creative design, business tourism, education and construction. During the week we had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Toronto Municipal Government, UK Trade & Investment and a number of Canadian entrepreneurs and business people with connections back to Scotland. These networks are vital to helping small businesses to open doors in this expansive market. A major key to success was the participation of the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Cllr Bob Winter as Leader of this visit. The Lord Provost is a great ambassador and asset for the city of Glasgow and his presence with us ensured media profile for our group in market and has facilitated a number of introductions to high profile individuals who can support us to achieve our ambitions and create jobs and opportunities for Glasgow. Some companies on the trade visit received grant support from the City Council, which goes towards a small portion of the costs of doing business abroad. The real investment for Scottish SMEs is their time away from their desk and normal day-to-day business. The delegation is very positive about future business with Toronto, noting that one good deal could negate the cost of the entire trade visit. For Glasgow to be a successful and outward looking city it is vital that businesses and local government work in partnership. The visit last week has demonstrated that this model can work and we look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Glasgow City Council to achieve our ambitions internationally both as businesses and as a city. John McCormack, CFO, Fruit Mobile Colin Maclean, Director, China Club HQ Laurie Clark, Director, ASC Concrete Stephen Telford, Managing Director, High Voltage Instruments Will Gunn, Director of Architecture, Wilson and Gunn Architects TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 25

Chicago 6 -8 April 2011 New York City - April 2011 The visit to Chicago was a follow-up to the In New York City, the Lord Provost again met signing of a Memorandum of Understanding Mr David Mundell, and also Deputy Presiding last year, which committed the two cities to Officer Alistair Morgan MSP and Jim Mather co-operation. MSP, Scottish Government Minster for industry, energy and tourism. Working together, the In particular this outlined 5 immediate possible quartet comprised a well-received and effective areas of mutual benefit for co-operation: representation of Scotland’s and Glasgow’s n Young offenders and criminal justice. interests.

n Exhibition on influence of Scots in Chicago. The visit to New York City was to accept the invitation of the New York National Tartan Day n Art museum exchanges. parade for the Lord Provost to act as Grand n Golf-related trade and tourism opportunities Marshal of the Parade. re Ryder Cup (Chicago 2012, Gleneagles 2014). This was the first time a Lord Provost had n General trade missions. been chosen to do so (others in the past have included Sir Sean Connery, and Presiding Further contact will be made with the incoming Officers of the Scottish Parliament) so this was Mayor of Chicago to advance the relationship. great honour for the City as well as for the LP. In the meantime, advisory groups have been set The Parade was a great success and the LP was a up in Chicago and Glasgow, each comprising very popular Grand Marshal. influential individuals as well as agencies which will be able to advance the programme The Lord Provost also met with 15 S1 pupils of co-operation between the two cities. from Shawlands Academy who had travelled to New York for an educational excursion, as the only school in Scotland invited to visit local schools and take part in Scotland Week events and the Tartan Day Parade. Funding was provided by the Southside Central Area Committee and the Lord Provost’s and International Office. 26 TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION Developing the International Dimension within Schools

What is International Education? Research demonstrates that effective practice in International Education is an interdependent ‘In a fast changing , globalised world, education system and an effective system will involve the need to help people understand the wider world following component parts; around them and make the global connections between issues such as poverty or climate change n Community of teachers. and their own lives. It should prepare them to live n Professional development. and work in a global society and economy and engage them to make the world a better place’. n External funding.

The International Education Office’s Development n Context specific. within the Glasgow Local Authority looks at n Sustainable / ecological. a systemic approach working alongside the British Council, Glasgow University, Schools, n Impact on the Curriculum. Masterclassers, HMIE, the Lord Provost’s & International Office, Learning Teaching Scotland and the International Education Strategy Group. International Education has a number of benefits for the Curriculum;

n Critical and creative thinking.

n Self-awareness and open-mindedness towards difference.

n Understanding of global issues and power relationships; and

n Optimism and action for a better world.

TWIN CITIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 27

Current International Education Programme Partnership from ongoing in Glasgow Educational Govan High Pupils establishments; What difference has the partnership n International Inspirations – Turkey. made to you personally? n Global School Partnerships – Trinidad. Student 1 – “It’s an extraordinary n Comenius – Europe. experience to be here. When I go n eTwinning – Europe. back to Scotland, I am going to

n Connecting Classrooms – Pakistan. change the way I live. Like electricity. You don’t realise how much n Connecting Classrooms Europea Poland, Spain, Bosnia Herzegovina. electricity it means to you. We take it for granted over in Scotland. Here n Five Nations – Northern Ireland. people don’t have electricity. Even in n School Exchange Programmes – South the hotel, we didn’t have electricity Aftica, Sub Saharan Africa, Asia, Europe. this morning, but people here still

n Comenius In-Service Training – Turkey. manage.”

n Global Exchange Programme – Kenya.

n LTS SCIPD.

n Confucius Classrooms – China.

n Comenius Regio – Marseilles.

n Delhi Ambassadors – Bcouncil INDIE. 28

GLOBAL GLASGOW

Global Glasgow promotes international networking and the development of the city’s international relationships. Within this programme, Council activity in networks aims to give each Council Service opportunities to participate in international projects and programmes, especially those attracting EU support. ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 29

EUROCITIES

EUROCITIES is the network For the Council, its value is that all Services can for large European cities. participate on a single central subscription: if Its main activities are Glasgow is to continue network activity, it can act exchange of expertise; as the “network of default”, i.e., there may be little point in Services holding membership of other policy development; and networks if EUROCITIES is already adequate. lobbying at an EU as the voice of those cities and Glasgow also participates in the EUROCITIES Working Group on Cohesion Policy, ensures urban policy makers. Membership is a that the City is well placed to make a serious Council policy, in that the EUROCITIES contribution to the debate on post 2013 representative is a formal Council EU Cohesion policy. In turn it is important appointment to an outside body. that Glasgow plays an active role in shaping the network’s policy position. Continuity of participation is required if the Council is to EUROCITIES is organised through a range of make a real impact on Eurocities’ work on this Forums covering a wide range of topics relevant priority topic. to city authorities. The current forums are: A recent beneficial development is that the Lord n Culture. Provost has signed up the EU Covenant of Mayors on committing the city to a reduction of carbon n Economy. emissions greater than current European targets. n Environment. Involvement in this international initiative opens access to significant EU funding targeted at n Knowledge Society. low-carbon programmes. EUROCITIES will play n Mobility; and a major part in shaping the structure of future funding in this area. It is essential that to develop n Social Affairs. the City’s profile within the Covenant and promote Beneath each Forum there are series of working the Sustainable Glasgow initiative within Europe groups who look at the detail of relevant EU policies that the Council maintains strong linkages with and undertake specific pieces of work or small scale EUROCITIES. Glasgow’s Sustainable Development projects. While the Forum is chaired by an elected team attended the EUROCITIES Environment member typically the working groups are chaired by Forum in Helsinki, where they were invited to senior officers with expertise in the subject. present Sustainable Glasgow in September 2011. 30 GLOBAL GLASGOW

LUCI

Glasgow City Council has been a member of LUCI Association (Lighting Urban Communities Initiative) since its formation in 2002. Glasgow was elected President in 2010, is Chair of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Light Festivals Workshop (formerly known as the Culture Commission). Glasgow will hold the position of President until autumn 2012 and is normally represented by Bailie Stewart with officer support. Glasgow’s membership complements the international profile of the City, allowing for exchange of experience, sharing of ideas and new technologies in the field of lighting, including lighting as an art form, to place Glasgow at the forefront of international best practice. There is an extensive programme of meetings and conferences held throughout the year that are available for officers to attend.

Glasgow is currently leading on two LUCI n Glasgow/ Amathole Lightlinks project sponsored funded projects and is participating in a by Thorn Lighting. Working in partnership number of other projects and initiatives with Amathole Municipality in South Africa, as summarise below: Thorn Lighting and with support from the LUCI organisation, this lighting project aims to LUCI Funded Projects being led by Glasgow: contribute to the development of urban lighting n Research commission on the financial and in disadvantaged communities by encouraging cultural benefits of Lighting Festivals and other cities from high and low income countries to events to cities. Research is being undertaken partner together, empowering them to better by Cambridge Policy Consultants and the final their own urban lighting solutions. report was made to 2011 AGM. Two locations have been identified, the City Hall in East London and the Arts Centre in Mdanstane township. It is anticipated both projects were realised in spring 2012. ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 31

Involvement in other projects / activities n Chair of Phillips City People Light Award resulting from membership of LUCI: International Judging Panel held in Glasgow at the Lighthouse in Summer 2010 for award n Contribution to the development and presentations made at LUCI AGM in Chartres publication of the LUCI Charter on Urban and contained within LUCI/Phillips publication Lighting, lead city is Leipzig. Glasgow will be on City People Light. using this charter to guide work undertaken in Glasgow. n Participation in an expert interview and questionnaire in August 2011 for Phillips Urban n Participation in an expert workshop held in Futures research programme. This will compare Berlin at WZB (www.wzb.eu) Social Science approaches internationally and involve future Research centre on 25/26 November 2010 panel discussions and a publication. entitled “Urban Light Planning: Evaluation, Evidence and the New”. 32 GLOBAL GLASGOW

SUSTAINABLE GLASGOW

Past or present projects or partnerships on a European or International level which have taken place between the period 2009-2012.

EU Covenant of Mayors Lord Provost addressed the Covenant of Mayors Under the Covenant of Mayors initiative, Glasgow Conference & Signing Ceremony on the theme of submitted a Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP) Sustainable Glasgow at the European Commission which has now been officially approved by the in Brussels on 4 May 2010. Covenant of Mayors. ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 33

International IBM Smarter Cities Initiative March 2011: Glasgow has become the first UK communities. By reducing energy costs and city to win a grant from the IBM Smarter Cities helping to tackle fuel poverty for poorer sections Challenge initiative. of our community we hope to have a real impact on improving people’s health and quality of life. The grant provides Glasgow with access to IBM’s top experts to analyse and recommend ways the “We are delighted that the IBM Smart Cities city can become an even better place in which to Challenge has recognised the work underway live, work and play. in our city and want to work with us to enable Glasgow to be a smarter and more sustainable city.” The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge is a competitive grant program in which IBM is awarding a total IBM selected cities that made the strongest case of $50 million worth of technology and services for participating in the Smarter Cities Challenge. to 100 municipalities worldwide over the next During these engagements, IBM technical experts, three years. researchers and consultants immerse themselves in local issues and offer a range of options and Teams of specially selected IBM experts will provide recommended next-steps. city leaders with analysis and recommendations to support successful growth, better delivery IBM received several hundred applications from of city services, more citizen engagement, and more than 40 countries for the 2011 grant improved efficiency. programme. The review team were “highly impressed” by the Glasgow bid, which is one of Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, 24 cities worldwide to be selected to receive a said: “This is fantastic news and will help Glasgow Smarter Cities Challenge grant. as we move forward with our aim to become a European leader in environmental, social and Through the Smarter Cities Challenge initiative, economic sustainability. IBM’s consultants and technology specialists will help the winning cities analyse and prioritise their “Through IBM’s Smart Cities initiative we hope needs, review strengths and weaknesses, and to maximise the tremendous opportunities learn from the successful strategies used by other for Glasgow to develop low-carbon energy municipalities worldwide. technologies, efficient homes, the provision of affordable heat and the creation of sustainable 34 GLOBAL GLASGOW

Roma Net Project Glasgow is taking part in the EU project Roma The Roma Net partners are: Net, which is a transnational partnership of 9 n Almeria – Spain. European cities – led by Budapest - aiming to n Bologna – Italy. tackle the social exclusion of the Roma population n Budapest – Hungary (Lead Partner). throughout Europe. The partnership is funded by n Glasgow – Scotland. the URBACT II programme of the European Union n Heraklion – Greece. the objective of which is to promote sustainable n Karvina – Czech Republic. urban development in cities. n Kosice – Slovakia. The purpose of the project is to exchange learning n Torren – Spain. with other European cities on the issues faced by n Udine – Italy. the Roma population. With 10-20 million Roma in Glasgow is in the process of formalising a Local Europe and the highest levels of deprivation and Support Group who will produce a Local Action poverty, they are the most socially excluded and Plan to highlight the priorities for the Roma in discriminated group in the European Union. the local area. It is estimated that there could be as many as 3000 Roma living in the Govanhill area. They are experiencing very poor housing conditions, unemployment and low educational attainment. Glasgow is committed to improving their living standards and to fully integrating their community into Scottish society. ACTIVITY REPORT 2009/2012 35

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau The Lord Provost has worked with the GCMB to secure a number of very significant conferences for Glasgow in coming years. These include: n Societie Internationale d’ Urologie (September 2014) valued at £4m, gained against competition from Prague and Lisbon. n European Association for the Study of the Liver (Oct 2014), valued at £11m, gained against competition from Vienna and Copenhagen. n World Artistic Gymnastics Championships (2015), valued at £5.8million, gained against competition Paris and Orlando: the largest gymnastics event in the world with approximately 600 competitors from around 80 countries compete with worldwide television coverage. n World Irish Dancing Championships (2016), valued at over £14m, gained against competition from Belfast, London , Killarney, Dublin, Maryland and Montreal: more than 4,000 competitors with approx 10,000 accompanying spectators. Lord Provost and International Office Corporate Services City Chambers Glasgow G2 1DU Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

West of Scotland European Forum (WOSEF)

INTRODUCTION

The West of Scotland European Forum (WOSEF) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Committee’s Inquiry on “Connecting Scotland”.

The Forum brings together the 12 local authorities in the West of Scotland together with a number of other regional organisations, for example Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

The Objectives of the Forum are:

a) to identify EU issues of particular relevance to Western Scotland, b) to enable partners to work together to represent Western Scotland interests on EU legislative and policy initiatives; c) to promote joint working by Forum partners in accessing financial and other support from relevant EU programmes; d) to form working relationships with other organisations and networks at Scottish, UK and EU levels where by doing so the interests of Western Scotland can be furthered; and e) to raise the profile of the West of Scotland with EU institutions and other regions within the EU

In practice the Forum’s current workplan, adopted in2010, has focussed almost exclusively on the 2014-20 Structural Fund Programmes (including however the relevant transnational and interregional structural l fund programmes) and the review of the European Commission’s Regional Aid Guidelines

The Forum has committed to reviewing its workplan in2015/16 hence this inquiry is very timely.

The Forum is currently chaired by Cllr Tony Buchanan (East Renfrewshire Council) with Cllr Jim Clocherty (Inverclyde Council) acting as Vice Chair. Glasgow City Council acts as lead and support authority to the Forum whose annual budget is around £50,000. This includes some provision for officer coordination of the work of the Forum.

INQUIRY QUESTIONS What international activities are happening now in your sector and/or organisation? Please describe how and why these activities take place. Are other sectors or organisations involved? What do these activities contribute or achieve?

From the previous section it will be evident that the Forum as such has very limited capacity to engage in European activity – by definition it does not participate at all in broader international activity.

Generally speaking the European (and in some cases international) activities of local authorities in the West of Scotland can be grouped under 4 broad headings:

Twinning activity School based activity European/International networks Transnational EU funding programmes.

It is not possible to present a comprehensive gazetteer of all Local authority activity within these headings but it is possible to give some illustrative examples under these headings.

Twinning: Most local authorities in the West of Scotland have a long standing tradition of actively supporting twinning activities. As far back as September 1980 for instance Kilmarnock and Loudoun District Council (now part of East Ayrshire Council) was presented with the Council of Europe Flag of Honour; this was followed in August 1989 by the Plaque of Honour which is second only to the Europe Prize itself. In addition East Renfrewshire Council, as well as being twinned with Albertslund, a suburban town on the outskirts of Copenhagen in Denmark, is also part of the International Twinning Partnership Network of towns across Europe. South Ayrshire Council has adopted a formal document outlining its approach to town twinning policy and practice

School based Activity: This is another long standing area of European/International activity for West of Scotland local authorities much of which was supported by the EU in the 2007-13 period through the Lifelong Learning Programme. Within this programme the Comenius Initiative was set up re to enhance the quality and reinforce the European dimension of school education, in particular by encouraging transnational cooperation between schools and contributing to improved professional development of staff directly involved in the school education sector, and to promote the learning of languages and intercultural awareness. In the final (2013) round of projects approved for multilateral school partnerships Glasgow City Council was awarded no fewer than 9 grants covering 5 primary, 3 secondary and 1 special needs school. Activities of this type are

2 continuing to receive support in the 2014-2020 period through the ERASMUS + programme.

European/International Networks: Given the growing impact of EU policies and legislation on local authority operations, a need to influence EU decision making at source has been identified. Much of this has been carried out on behalf of Scottish local authorities as a whole via COSLA which, in addition to maintaining a Brussels Office, is an active member of the CEMR (the Congress of European Municipalities and Regions) – the Europe wide umbrella organisation for national local authority associations. In addition some individual local authorities in the West of Scotland are members of EU networks dealing with specific issues or types of authority. As an example, Argyll and Bute Council is involved in an international network of European regions, the CPMR (Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions), which work together to ensure their common interest and unique geographies are taken into account by the EU institutions and national governments. The policies include regional policy, competition policy and state aids, transportation and fisheries. Within the CPMR, Argyll and Bute Council is also a member of the Atlantic Arc geographic sub group which also hold an annual General Meeting each year in a member region.

Transnational EU Funding Programmes: Many EU funding programmes (in addition to the Education themed ones referred to above) are set up on a transnational basis. For instance in the 2007-13 funding period about 2.5% of the Structural Funds budget was allocated to “European Territorial Cooperation” (INTERREG Programmes). The West of Scotland region was eligible for the following programmes within this objective:

 The Ireland/Northern Ireland/Western Scotland Cross Border Programme (Ayrshire and Argyll only eligible)  The North West Europe Transnational programme (whole region)  The Atlantic Area Transnational Programme (whole region);  The Northern Periphery Programme (Argyll and Clyde islands only)  The EU wide cooperation programme INTERREG IV and URBACT II

The Forum has played a full role along with other stakeholders in publicising the opportunities provided these programmes. In recent times this activity has been carried out under the auspices of the Scottish Network on European Territorial Cooperation, a fairly informal grouping chaired by the Scottish Government with participation from a number of agencies including Scotland Europa as well as local government.

Among the projects involving WOSEF Members were:

 The Sail West Project under the Cross Border programme. This involved North and South Ayrshire Councils together with Argyll and Bute Council (plus Highland and Dumfries and Galloway Councils from other parts of the eligible area in Scotland). The ultimate goal of the project is to create a marine leisure centre of excellence in the coastal zone that will help to rejuvenate local communities through the provision of new employment opportunities;

 The ICMA (Improving Connectivity and Mobility Access) project approved under the North West Europe Transnational Programme. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport was a partner to this project. The project aimed significantly to affect modal choice at the beginning and end of a journey, so reducing the environmental footprint of transport. It also aimed to provide accessible solutions where and when they are needed, fostering equitable and socially inclusive transport for all. The aspiration was to see more sustainable and competitive transport provision on the first and last miles, which meets citizens' expectations.

 The Roma Net project approved under the URBACT programme had Glasgow City Council as a partner. This transnational partnership of 9 European cities – led by Budapest - aimed to tackle the social exclusion of the Roma population throughout Europe. The work carried out by the Council in the context of this project was recognised by it being awarded the best team award in the 2014 COSLA Excellence Awards.

Successor programmes to all the above for the 2014-2020 have been prepared and have either been approved or are expected to secure approval by the European commission by the end of 2015.

Despite the very real benefits from all the activity types listed above there are a number of constraints that limit the capacity of local authorities in the West of Scotland to engage in European and International work.

First and foremost are capacity issues – not just financial but also in terms of human resources. For example planning a transnational EU funding bid will typically involve a lot of work in advance of submission in terms of identifying suitable partners in other countries and in negotiating what are sometime complex proposed work

4 packages. This can often take over a year with no guarantee of success at the end of the process.

The relative peripherality of the West of Scotland also is a factor. It generally takes longer and cost more for organisations in the West of Scotland to take part in multilateral based activities in contrast to partners based in mainland Europe (or close to the Channel Tunnel rail link in the south of the UK)

Finally press and public scepticism about the value of European and International activity is also a factor.

Despite considerable rationalisation for the 2014-20 funding period there are still a very large number of transnational EU funding programmes each with its own detailed rules, eligibility criteria, timetables and web sites. The recent launch of the Scottish EU funding Portal by Scotland Europa is a welcome step in moving towards a “one door” approach to finding out about these programmes. The Forum is one of partners who have made a financial contribution to this initiative.

What should organisations in Scotland do to be effective internationally? Are you aware of any good examples of this from Scotland or another country?

Obviously to be effective internationally any organisation needs to exhibit:

 High level management/elected member commitment to work of this type  A clear up front appreciation of the resources required and the risks that may arise;  Sustained support for this activity over a period of time – there is often a considerable time gap between undertaking the activity and realising the practical benefits “on the ground”;

The Forum is not aware of any good practice from other countries in this regard and would be very interested in any light the Committee investigation can throw on this subject.

April 2015

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

South of Scotland Alliance

Officer Note on European Cooperation

The South of Scotland Alliance which comprises Scottish Borders Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Enterprise recognises the importance of European funding and co-operation to support its aims of developing the economy of the South of Scotland.

The European Funding Programme for 2014 – 2020 is just getting underway and the South of Scotland Alliance and its partners have been focusing on maximising their participation in the Scottish European programme in order to access assistance from the European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development Fund including LEADER and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

In the previous European Funding Programmes 2000- 2006 and 2007 - 2013 the South of Scotland Alliance and its partners have been involved in a range of European cooperation programmes.

Dumfries and Galloway Council was able to take advantage of the Interreg IVA 2009 – 2013 Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland. This included the very successful Sail West project. This was a marine tourism project led by Donegal County Council designed to promote the west coast of Scotland, Northern Ireland and North West Ireland as a world class sailing destination. The project had 20 partners from across the area, with funding of €7 million secured in 2010 for a series of projects. The project included the development of shore support facilities such as shower and toilets at Stranraer.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is currently involved in discussions about its involvement in the Interreg IVA 2014 – 2020 Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland.

CREATE (Connecting Rural Enterprise for A Transnational Economy) is an innovative new project joining a group of like-minded organisations spanning public sector authorities, private sector representative groups, and business development agencies. The six partner organisations are from France, the UK, Ireland and Belgium, who share a joint vision of encouraging economic development. Herefordshire Council is the Lead Partners and Scottish Enterprise is the Scottish partner. The project ends in the summer 2015.

The project was awarded European funding through the INTERREG IVB North West Europe programme in 2013, to develop and pilot best practice techniques which encourage rural small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to take up and fully exploit the potential of faster broadband. CREATE can also help SMEs identify opportunities to work with other small rural businesses across North West Europe to share best practice and learning. The South of Scotland has been involved in this project.

CREATE looks to overcome the barriers to growth and competitiveness experienced by SMEs in predominantly rural areas. These barriers include geographic isolation, lack of infrastructure, lack of scale, poor joint working opportunities and critically, lack of ICT expertise. Faster broadband and advanced ICT have the potential to overcome these barriers and transform the productivity of rural SMEs.

Both Scottish Borders Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council have been involved in European cooperation initiatives through LEADER Rural Development Programmes. Scottish Borders Council has been involved in a partnership initiative with the Sjuharad area (near Gothenburg) in Sweden. This initiative resulted in a number of youth development and tourism projects funded under the Scottish Borders LEADER+ Programme. The funding for the new LEADER Programmes up to 2020 has just been announced and opportunities are being investigated for further European cooperation.

The South of Scotland Alliance has limited capacity in terms of staff resources and match funding to be involved in European trans-national projects. It recognises that are European innovation and research and development cooperation programmes such as Horizon 2020 could provide considerable potential benefits to the South of Scotland.

The Alliance is keen to get more commitment from national agencies to give equal consideration to the needs of the South of Scotland in the development of transnational and research & development projects being put forward for European Funding. The South of Scotland Alliance is a member of Scotland Europa and is working with this body to look at opportunities for more involvement in European cooperation projects.

Douglas Scott Scottish Borders Council On behalf of the South of Scotland Alliance 6 May 2015

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

Highlands and Islands Council

Questions What international activities are happening now in your sector and/or organisation? Please describe how and why these activities take place. Are other sectors or organisations involved? What do these activities contribute or achieve?

The Council engages on the international stage primarily via:  Highlands & islands European Partnership (HIEP);  membership and involvement in European networks  inward investment activities;  culture and tourism;  Management of European Programmes;  project work; and  twinning and trans-national links

Highlands & Islands European Partnership. The Council is a member of and currently chairs the Board of the Highlands & Islands European Partnership (HIEP). The Partnership comprises the seven local authorities in the Highlands & Islands, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands & islands (UHI). Although increasingly active in Scotland and the UK, the primary focus of Partnership activity remains Brussels where it has an office in Scotland House. The Partnership was established to ensure a distinctive Highlands & Islands presence in Brussels; to ensure that the voice of the region was heard in the development of European legislation and funding initiatives and to maximise the benefits of the EU to the region.

European Networks. The Council is of the firm belief that the voice of the Highlands, and indeed that of the Highlands & islands will have greater impact if it is heard with others of common cause. To this end it retains membership of:  Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR);  Euromontana; and  North Sea Commission (NSC).

In seeking to shape the agenda of these organisations and that the position of the Highlands is prominent in opinions they promote, the Council has sought and currently holds the following positions:  CPMR – Councillor Drew Hendry is vice President , the UK member on the ruling Political Bureau and leads the Conference’s Climate Change portfolio;  Euromontana - Councillor George Farlow is a Board member;  North Sea Commission

- Councillor Jimmy Gray is Chair of the Energy and Climate Change Thematic Working Group; - Councillor David Alston is the vice Chair of the Culture & Tourism Thematic Working group and alternate Scottish member on the Executive Committee

Engagement with other EU wide lobbying networks such as the Atlantic Arc Commission, Islands Commission, Eurada, and University of the Arctic is achieved via the memberships of other partners of HIEP.

Priorities change with time but at present, the Council is actively lobbying on:  accessibility – both physical and digital;  energy generation and the development of an integrated meshed grid;  climate change as it impacts on regional development;  waste management;  indicators for determining eligibility of future allocations of EU funding; and  regional policy.

Inward Investment. The Council also acts with others in pursuit of developing Highland as one of the most attractive environments to do business in Scotland.

As part of the Scottish Cities Alliance the Council has been working in partnership with Scotland’s cities, promoting Inverness and the Highlands in international arenas. This raises the profile of the area to International investment and developer markets.

Recently the Council has been active in promoting the University sector to potential partners throughout Europe. The Council along with the University of the Highlands & islands (UHI) recently attended an international event in Gorizia, Italy designed to encourage economic and research opportunities between UHI and Croatian Universities in Dubrovnik and Zadar.

Links have also been made with First Scandinavia aimed at learning from the Norwegian “Newton Rooms” concept and how this can be used to encourage young people to explore career opportunities in STEM subjects. This is being reinforced by developing workforce openings locally to take these opportunities forward commercially.

Work is also undertaken in partnership with HIE and the Scottish Development International (SDI) to support inward investment to the Highlands.

Culture & Tourism. The Council is a member of Cruise Scotland and uses this platform to promote cruise destinations to the international market.

Management of European Programmes. The Council sits on the Monitoring Committee of the 2014-20 Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme and chairs the Regional Advisory Group.

Project Work. This has declined in recent years but is subject of review as how to encourage more involvement in trans regional project work.

Twinning and Trans-national Links. Twinning is very much led by the individual communities with limited support from the Council. However the Council has supported an exchange of young people from Augsburg who have had work placements with the Council during the exchange period.

Highland is also developing links with Arges County in Romania. This is at an early stage of development.

Why. These activities take place in order to:  contribute towards local, regional and national objectives to help grow the economy as part of the Scottish Government’s Economic Strategy;  to develop and promote Highland as one of the most attractive environments to do business in Scotland;  raise awareness among SMEs of the opportunities of international trade;  raise the profile of the Council and of the Highlands as players on the European stage so that the European institutions are more likely to take cognisance of the views from the region in the development of EU funding initiatives and legislation ;  facilitate opportunities for the Council and regional stakeholders to learn from others via the networks that the Council has membership of.  Open doors

Effectiveness can be measured at different levels. In terms of achieving recent goals of eligibility for regional funding and regional aid eligibility, the Council (in partnership) has been very successful.

At a political level, the Council operates at the decision-making end of the organisations it is involved with.

Lobbying can be a long term game and the results of current activity will only be known in future years.

Learning from others as how to better delver services is an area that warrants greater focus.

There is a view that working in Europe is difficult and the dissemination of good practice and benefits of working on the European and wider international stages would be beneficial. The pro-active support from the Scottish Government would assist get the message over that it is actually beneficial for Council’s to co-operate and work at on the international stage as long as it is in line with Council objectives and Government strategies and delivers benefits.

Budget reductions have reduced the ability to undertake this activity.

What should organisations in Scotland do to be effective internationally? Are you aware of any good examples of this from Scotland or another country?

Work together to share experience. The current Scottish Territorial Co- operation Network (SCONE) for example has the possibility to bring together actors in the field of European inter-regional co-operation to share experience as how to best apply for Interreg funds and to deal with the attendant administration.

As above, messages of support from the Scottish Government would help.

May 2015

ANNEXE B

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

Aberdeen City Council

1. What international activities are happening now in your sector and/or organisation? Please describe how and why these activities take place. Are other sectors or organisations involved? What do these activities contribute or achieve?

Aberdeen City Council undertakes international activities focused on the following four main areas:

a) Business, Trade and Investment support for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) b) Culture c) European Policy and Funding d) Community Development (twin city links)

Business, Trade and Investment support for SMEs

The economic development service supports SMEs to trade internationally and increase their turnover from exports. It does this by:

 hosting inward business delegations (hosted 24 delegations in 2014)  organising trade seminars on how to do business in key target markets  organising overseas trade missions (involved in 7 missions to 5 countries in 2014)  attending, addressing or hosting industry events and conferences, eg Offshore Europe; Offshore Technology Conference in Houston; Offshore Northern Seas in Stavanger  promoting the strengths and capabilities of Aberdeen’s businesses at events  facilitating direct business to business introductions and links  gathering and disseminating market intelligence  maintaining strategic international alliances such as Aberdeen’s six Memoranda of Understanding (bilateral economic cooperation agreements) with other key energy cities/regions in Brazil, Canada, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan and Mexico  developing new strategic links with emerging or target markets to pave the way for company market entry (eg Mozambique oil and gas; Japan renewable energy)  being active members of the World Energy Cities Partnership – a 22-strong global network of cities that host energy industries www.energycities.org  coordinating business support activities with partner organisations through the North East Scotland Trade Group http://www.aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/Invest/Business- Services/International-Trade/NESTG/North-East-Scotland-Trade-Group.aspx

These activities take place in order to:

 contribute towards local, regional and national objectives to help grow the economy  build on Aberdeen’s position as a global centre of excellence for the energy industry  raise awareness among SMEs of the international trade opportunities that exist in key target markets  open doors into key target markets, especially those where civic, diplomatic, city-to-city or local government links are particularly useful  help increase the number of SMEs exporting  help increase SMEs’ % of turnover from exports

Other organisations involved include North East Scotland Trade Group partners:

 Aberdeenshire Council  Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce  University of Aberdeen  Robert Gordon University  Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future  Scottish Development International/Scottish Enterprise  Scottish Council for Development and Industry  UK Trade and Investment  Subsea UK

These activities provide tailored and targeted support to businesses whose continued success underpins Aberdeen’s economic performance.

Culture

Aberdeen City Council’s Education, Culture and Sport service is closely involved in a significant amount of wide-ranging international activity, some examples of which are listed below:

1. Aberdeen International Youth Festival - Aberdeen City Council invests over £130,000 per year in Aberdeen International Youth Festival to bring some of the best young theatre, dance and music performers to Aberdeen from throughout the world each summer. www.aiyf.org

2. Lively Cities - The Lively Cities Project (LICI) was a 3 year European partnership, supported through the Interreg IVB North West Europe programme .The project looked at alternative ways of strengthening communities by 'reclaiming public space for public use'. Aberdeen along with nine other partner cities including La Louviere, Lille, Eindhoven and Brighton, each developed and piloted collaborative solutions to the challenges of place management within urban settings. Aberdeen City Council, as a project partner, focused on developing the city through public art.

LICI project supported a unique transnational knowledge exchange, alternative insight into analysing public spaces, development of collaborative solutions and to pilot these solutions in order to provide evidence which will inform future policy and

2 actions. The work undertaken has laid the foundations for on-going cultural exchanges, such as the SPECTRA Light Festival, as well as informing local planning and policy development. Projects such as LICI are essential for Aberdeen, not only to identify collaborative cost-effective solutions but also to be recognised on a bigger platform, for best practice and our unique strengths and assets as a forward-thinking, progressive city.

3. Energy cities culture partnership - Aberdeen City Council in partnership with Robert Gordon University has established an ongoing partnership with the cities of Calgary, Houston, Stavanger and Toronto. This partnership is built upon the development of arts and culture within an energy cities context and, in the case of Toronto, learning from a global cultural capital. The collaboration has taken different forms. Firstly, in October 2014 delegates from each of the cities were invited to Aberdeen to participate in an international conference on the role and development of arts and culture in the context of an energy centre. In addition, each delegate spent time with various organisations and attending different sessions including a specific network meeting with the Chamber of Commerce. From this initial visit, we have retained regular communication (through emails and skype calls) as a form of knowledge exchange, while specific joint initiatives are now being developed. This includes a creative exchange programme with Calgary Arts Development which is being launched later this year. This will support young artists to travel and participate in residencies and different programmes to support their development.

The aim of this collaboration was firstly as a form of learning and knowledge exchange but is now evolving to practical programmes. There are many distinctions between Aberdeen and these cities, however there are also distinct similarities from which we can learn. Aberdeen is in the process of developing a renewed strategy for arts and culture, a process that each of these cities has recently been through and the learning from this has been very beneficial.

4. Europe Direct Aberdeen – The Central Library hosts a Europe Direct service that provides:

 Information about the European Union (EU) in any of the official EU languages  Internet access to EU websites  EU resources for teachers  Copies of publications, brochures and guides to take away  An annual Schools Debate on EU-relevant themes  A series of leaflets allowing citizens to find out about the role of the European Union and their rights in various key areas of European policy http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/Library/information_service/lib_information_europedi rect.asp

5. Museums and Galleries - The Museums and Galleries section, a member of the North Sea Museums Network, loans works of art throughout the year to international museums and galleries and also displays both loaned and its own international collections. During the redevelopment of Aberdeen Art Gallery, the City Council’s collections will be exhibited in a number of venues, nationally and internationally. These include a large group of paintings by the “Glasgow Boys” on show at the Drents Museum, Assen in the Netherlands and French Impressionist works by Monet, Renoir and Sisley in ARoS, Kunstsmuseum, Aarhus in Denmark.

Recently, the City Council’s “ Study after Velázquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X”, by Francis Bacon was a key part of the exhibition, “Francis Bacon and the Art of the Past” at the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg in Russia. Jointly developed with the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, and University of East Anglia, the exhibition took place within the framework of the UK-Russia Year of Culture in 2014. Aberdeen’s contribution to the exhibition was the only one from a local authority museum or art gallery in the UK.

6. Arts Development twin city programme (see also Community Development section below) - Arts Development has an established role developing cultural partnerships with Aberdeen’s twin cities as well as further afield. This work plays a vital role in strengthening the city’s relationships with its European partners and raising the cultural profile of Aberdeen to a wider audience. Recent examples include:

 Connections – Inter-generational creative writing, oral story-telling and drama project with Regensburg on memories of the Second World War, resulting in a bilingual publication produced by older people and a play performed in both cities by young people.

 Fairytales in the Landscape – This was a £3million pound project being held as part of Stavanger’s European Capital of Culture 2008 programme. The young people in Aberdeen had mainly been taught traditional musical theatre so this project exposed them to new and experimental way of working with theatre professionals. The group of 6 young people spent 2 weeks in Stavanger performing daily in the project, an amazing opportunity which received much media coverage in Stavanger. As part of the legacy of the project, the site where the performance took place has now been bought by the city of Stavanger as a public park, which now stages regular theatre experiences.

7. ATLAC (Arts as a Tool for Learning Across the Curriculum) - The Arts Education service has a long-standing partnership with the University of Aberdeen School of Education in the joint delivery of Arts as a Tool for Learning Across the Curriculum (ATLAC), funded by Creative Scotland.

Working on the BEd3 and BEd4 programmes, professional artists and lecturers co- deliver sessions to develop the knowledge, skills and aspirations of student teachers in using creative approaches to teaching and learning across the primary curriculum.

The University of San Andrés in Buenos Aires made an approach to Creative Scotland to learn more about the Aberdeen model. Professor Pete Stollery, Head of the School of Education in Aberdeen, made a research visit to Buenos Aires in 2011 where proposals for professional exchanges and conferences were developed.

A number of exchange visits have taken place on sharing best practice in the field of arts, learning and communities. There is a Memorandum of Understanding between the 2 cities focused on these themes. In addition, partners in Buenos Aires have set up 'ABC Buenos Aires,' an artists’ training programme and new ways of working in schools based on the Aberdeen ATLAC model. 'ABC Buenos Aires' is now an official project of the city government and is beginning to expand to other provinces.

European Policy and Funding

Aberdeen plays an active role in the North Sea Commission, Energie Cities and other European organisations. Activity includes influencing, participating in and leading trans-national projects and disseminating information about policy and funding.

For further information, please see http://www.aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/Invest/Aberdeens-Economy/Policy-and- Funding/Policy-and-Funding.aspx

Community Development

Aberdeen has very active relationships with its five twin cities (Regensburg, Germany; Clermont-Ferrand, France; Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Gomel, Belarus; and Stavanger, Norway) encompassing sport, education, culture, health, community engagement etc. Some examples are provided in section six above.

For further information, please see http://www.aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/Visit/TwinningAberdeen/Twinning- Aberdeen.aspx

2. Do you think your sector and/or organisation is effective in participating in international activities?

Aberdeen City Council demonstrates its commitment to international engagement by participating in, leading and driving activities that strengthen Aberdeen’s profile internationally and enhance the city’s quality of life locally. This international presence emphasises that Aberdeen is a highly-attractive location of choice in which to invest, live, work, study or visit.

17 April 2015

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

Angus Council

ANGUS INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY

Background

The aim is also to ensure that council officers and elected members are aware of the opportunities and issues that relate to international perspectives, in terms of policy and that we identify and maximise opportunities to become involved in projects and partnerships that enhance and add value to our current activity and objectives . In addition this will then allow us to identity funding streams to add value to current resources.

In our work to grow, support and sustain the local economy, international markets and international profile are essential. For Angus and Scotland, international engagement is a key component in our strategy to secure our common future. Jobs, prosperity and quality of life will all be enhanced by our collective efforts to engage with the wider world.

Examples of activity:

Partnerships:

 member of East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC) and current host authority working at an EU level to influence policy; project development and partnership engagement

 Chair of ESEC is an Angus elected member, Cllr Mairi Evans, who is actively involved in CEMR and in particular active at an EU level on youth engagement

 Membership of ESEC also brings membership of Scotland Europa and active engagement with them

 Recently the Scottish EU Funding Portal was launched which ESEC supported

 Working closely with agencies such as Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Visitscotland and Scotland’s Food and Drink to support opportunities for businesses

 Supporting the development of an EU action plan through Scottish Government’s European Relations Team.

 As part of the Scottish Enterprise Tayside Regional Advisory Board Angus Council is supporting the key priority of Internationalisation. The Tayside International Conference was held in December 2014 as the launch of a three year Internationalisation Plan to support businesses in Tayside to become more competitive in the international market.

 Internationalisation is a planned topic of the forthcoming Angus Business Week in September 2015 including Global Scot involvement

 Export activity and ambitions form part of the annual business survey in Angus to ensure that a programme of support can be developed in response to business needs

 Working on an east coast basis with other local authorities to promote the east coast of Scotland at national and international events eg EXPO and Golf Shows in Germany and Sweden

 First UK member of ENRICH to promote the culinary heritage of Angus at an EU level

Policy

 Aligning the International Framework to relevant Scottish Government policy and strategies to demonstrate clearer alignment to national priorities

 Early identification of and response to emerging EU policy to ensure the council is prepared for new legislation

 Providing input into consultations for the Europe 2020 strategy, maritime transport strategy and the white paper on transport

 Establishing a cross council State Aid group to ensure compliance, raise awareness of State Aid issues and implications of non compliance. Hailed as best practice and now shared with other councils.

Projects

 Identification of projects to address objectives and successfully securing funding to deliver these

 Lead partner of 3 year ERDF project Rural Tourism Business Support supporting SMEs across the east of Scotland in key sectors of golf, food and drink, outdoor tourism and heritage and partner in ERDF funded East Coast Renewables project. Under this project we organised a learning journey to 2

the world Sustainable Energy Days Conference in Wels Austria and took a number of companies

 Lead partner for Rural Tayside LEADER Programme 2007-13 delivering a £2.8 m programme and lead partner for new Angus LEADER Programme 2014-2020.

 Worldwide exposure to Golf in Carnoustie Country area through international press coverage, attendance at events, events in the area including the World Hickory Championship in 2014

 Angus Market Development Grant has been continued but simplified and promotion of this improved to encourage businesses to apply for funding to help with exploring new markets at home and abroad

Proposed activity

 Developing new long term relationship with Vastmanland region, Sweden to build on experience of Angus and Sweden in key sectors of heritage and food drink with shared learning utilising new IT development, webinars etc as well as learning visits.

 A number of funding bids currently submitted in preparation particularly transnational bids to support our objectives in the fields of social innovation, schools and learning and agrifood and civil society.

 Invited to submit a bid along with Mercy Corps to support development of Rural cooperation and Development in Georgia on basis of experience in LEADER delivery

April 2015

Connecting Scotland: how Scottish organisations engage internationally

Argyll and Bute Council

International Networking The Council’s Economic Development section is involved in an international network of European regions, the CPMR (Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions), which work together to ensure their common interest and unique geographies are taken into account by the EU institutions and national governments. The policies include regional policy, competition policy and state aids, transportation and fisheries. The CPMR have an annual General Meeting which takes place each year hosted by a different member region, and likewise. Within the CPMR, Argyll and Bute Council are also members of the Atlantic Arc geographic sub group which also hold an annual General Meeting each year in a member region.

Twinning Arrangements Argyll and Bute is twinned with Amberg-Suzback in Germany. A youth group from Amberg-Sulzbach visited Argyll and Bute two years ago. The Council organised a number of activities for those participating in the visit. The Council are currently planning further activities with Amberg-Sulzbach.

Youth Exchanges In addition to the above, Argyll and Bute Council have been involved in the organisation of various youth exchanges in recent years:  Spain – the theme was Youth Democracy and involved groups from both countries looking at examples of youth democracy structures in their each other’s communities. They also held joint training in youth participation skills, including presentation and marketing.

 Poland – the theme for this exchange was facilities for young people. It led to a campaign by young people from the North Argyll Youth Forum to introduce a local alcohol tax, with the proceeds going to services and facilities which will offset the damage caused by alcohol misuse.

Both Oban and Rothesay are in the very early stages of planning exchanges for next year.

Location Promotion Film in Argyll and Bute is part of the Scottish Film Locations Network which is a partnership with the Scottish Film Commission. Through this we have links to the European Film Commission and work internationally to promote Argyll and Bute to and answer screen enquiries from Europe and wider. This often leads to productions from Europe and wider, using Argyll and Bute as a location.

Support for local organisations to engage internationally Argyll and Bute Council were the lead partner for the Argyll and the Islands LEADER European funding programme. Through this programme, a number of local organisations were assisted in the development of international

1 projects which, following support by the Local Action Group, received LEADER funding. These include:

Fifteen Hundredth Anniversary International Exchange: this project which was hosted by Luss Parish Church, Argyll and Bute and involved exchange visits and information sharing between the communities of Roviga in Italy and Luss. Together, the groups explored common problems such as the lack of affordable housing in rural communities and the relationship between the environment and encouraging tourism.

Columba Challenge and Festival of the Sea: this project involved the Inishowen Development Partnership from Donegal and South Islay Development, Argyll and Bute. This involved a series of regattas, awareness raising events and workshops in each area.

Local Produce: this initiative involved Skand Nordvaste Sodre and Skane Nordvaste Nodre Local Action Groups from Sweden and Tarbert and Sknipness Community Trust, Kintyre Environmental Group, Bridgend Community Centre Group and the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust from Argyll and Bute. The project which centred around local food production provided resources to increase production, access to local markets through training, volunteering and employment in local food projection as well as increasing capacity for the long term sustainability of these community resources.

If you require further information on any of the above, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Mary Louise Howat Senior Development Officer Argyll and Bute Council

April 2015

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

East Lothian Council

Current How and why does this activity take What other organisations or What does this activity International place? sectors are involved? contribute or achieve? Activity Twinning East Lothian has 5 very active twinning East Lothian Council supports these The purpose of these activities links. twinning links in partnership with is to establish and maintain each of the towns twinning friendly relations with each East Lothian as a county has been twinned associations. other and, through that with the region of Kreis Spree Neisse in friendship, pursue the Germany since 1999. promotion of cultural, educational, social, economic, The town of Haddington has been twinned tourist, youth and sporting with Aubigny-Sur-Nere, France since 1965 exchanges, in the interests of as both towns share historical links with the inhabitants of their Mary Queen of Scots and the Scottish- communities. French Auld Alliance.

Musselburgh has been twinned with Champigny-sur-Nere, France since 1967 and also with Rosignano Marittimo, Italy since 1983. Champigny was already twinned with Rosignano, so a three-way link was considered advantageous.

Dunbar has been twinned with Lignieres, France since 1994 and is also twinned with Martinez, California since 1973 as John Muir who was born in Dunbar, is Father to its National Park system. (continued overleaf)

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

East Lothian Council

The newly established link is between the Preston Seton Gosford schools cluster who has been twinned with Barga, Italy since 2006 as a result of a mutual interest in the work of artist, John Bellany)

Regular communication and visits take place between each twin town and their counterparts including sporting and cultural activities, schools, scholarships and Council-to-Council exchanges.

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

East Lothian Council

Current How and why does this activity take What other organisations or What does this activity International place? sectors are involved? contribute or achieve? Activity

United Study Visit to the UK: Learning on Local Palestinian Government – This was a one off study visit to Nations Governance in Scotland and on the Ministry for Local Government East Lothian as part of a week Habitat Planning System in Scotland as it affects long UK study visit by the UN Project: populated rural areas. Habitat Project team in March Planning and 2015. It contributed a greater development understanding of the current Support to Scottish Planning System, and Palestinians local governance arrangements in in Israeli Scotland. This was particularly Controlled relevant for the UN Palestinian Area C of the delegation who, in Area C of West Bank Palestine, still operate under a version of Jordanian Planning Law from the 1960s and three Regional Outline Plans produced by the British in the 1940s that are still legal documents. The study delegation were particularly interested in planning of villages in East Lothian; in how we prepare a development brief for a site and in how strategic environmental assessment is undertaken.

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

East Lothian Council

Current International How and why does this What other organisations or What does this activity Activity activity take place? sectors are involved? contribute or achieve? Links with Rwanda as East Lothian was aligned with SportScotland It has begun to highlight the part of the Rwanda as part of the range of actions and Commonwealth Games “Support a Second Team” opportunities for the partners 2014 Legacy initiative for the to work together, particularly in Commonwealth Games 2014. relation to sport and sports The county hosted the education. A recent visit to Rwandan team for a pre- Rwanda by East Lothian games training camp, and this representatives and has led to a more lasting link SportScotland involved whereby both sides have discussions with the Rwandan committed to further develop Sports Minister and officials, a their relationship. number of school and community projects, and the delivery of coach education to Rwandan rugby coaches.

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

East Lothian Council

Schools Activity Current International How and why does this What other organisations or What does this activity Activity activity take place? sectors are involved? contribute or achieve? Athelstaneford Primary Letters between pupils in French school Develop skills in reading and school French school and pupils in writing French; partnership; (School link) ours. Two of our present pupils understanding another culture. have come to us from the French school. We sent PowerPoint presentations to French school. Viewing each other’s websites. Athelstaneford Primary Event took place in summer Beach Allan Primary School from St Opportunities for children to School 2014 in front of school and Kitt’s and Nevis meet competitors from another provided an opportunity to country. St Kitt’s Commonwealth promote partnership. St Kitt’s and Nevis Commonwealth Games team met with Games team pupils and parents during the summer holidays. East Linton Primary Through a marine biologist School in Kenya Enhances delivery of science School (parent ) our current P7 class Experiences and Outcomes compare information about as well as Global citizenship Link with school in Kenya coastal habitats aspects Humbie Primary School Has international contact through charity fundraising.

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

East Lothian Council

Current International How and why does this What other organisations or What does this activity Activity activity take place? sectors are involved? contribute or achieve? Global campaign highlighting Global groups. Develops empathy, Innerwick Primary the number of children still not understanding, teamwork and School attending school. many other attributes in our Different activities each year, pupils. Send My Friend when pupils make campaign friends/teachers to send to local MP, then to Prime Minister. Innerwick Primary Raising funds for our chosen The school is now building its School charity. Neema is an 5th classroom. Pupils orphanage in Kenya. We raise communicate by letter. Neema School funds to continue the building of the school.

Innerwick Primary LifeStraw is a water filter Rotary Clubs. Highlights importance of clean School designed to be used by one water and illnesses incurred person to filter water so that when this is a concern. Raising funds for they may safely drink it. Lifestraw

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

East Lothian Council

Current International How and why does this What other organisations or What does this activity Activity activity take place? sectors are involved? contribute or achieve? Prestonpans Infant This is a school for Burmese migrant School children. It is supported locally by Shares an interest with the Maitri Trust. Campie Primary School in Child Development Centre school in Maw Sot, Thailand Preston/Seton/Gosford Schools fill boxes with Rotary Clubs. Helps provide safe water for Primary Schools equipment for safe water (plus people in other parts of the other useful items such as world; helps pupils develop as Aquabox – providing toothpaste) which are then “Responsible Citizens” in terms equipment for safe water distributed to people in India of the Curriculum for and Africa. Excellence.

Sanderson’s Wynd Hosting International Visitors. Primary School Curricular Studies Fundraisers for charities that UNICEF - Day for work across the Globe eg Red Change Nose Day. Whitecraig Primary Four Chinese students come Edinburgh University; Bilingualism Children are exposed to (and School to school for an hour a week to Matters; Education Scotland learn) another language in a teach Mandarin in P1/2 and (evaluation) fun and interesting way, Early Learning of P2/3. delivered by Chinese students. Chinese Project This develops metalinguistic awareness.

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

East Lothian Council

Current International How and why does this What other organisations or What does this activity Activity activity take place? sectors are involved? contribute or achieve? Musselburgh Grammar They have had a strong In addition, the “whole-school” School relationship with Campie responsibility for our new Principal Primary School for many Teacher of Modern Languages will Seeking to form links with years. The Head of Education be Learning for Sustainability. a school in Burma. from Burma visited our school this week.

Committee’s question: “Do you think your sector and/ or organisation is effective in participating in international activities? If not, what would help you to make improvements? What prevents you from making improvements now?”

Comment: In the current financial climate it can be difficult not just to finance programmes of activity but also to commit resources to organising their development in the first place. We are proud of colleagues and pupils for their involvement and we believe we are effective to the extent we can participate.

In the past some of our international work has been funded by EU programmes such as INTERREG, or programmes funded by the government of the visiting country. For example, in 2013 the Council hosted an expert study visit on tourism from Kreis Spree Neisse whose participants were funded by a German federal government programme (LAURIN) to aid communities in the former East Germany; the Council’s participation was not externally funded. A year later we received a request to host a further study visit on a different topic but had to decline due to lack of resource. In addition, there is limited scope to return study visits, despite enthusiastic invitations, which tends to deprive the relationship of reciprocity.

It is noticeable how well many of our visitors (from different countries) speak English, and we do not have the same level of skill in the various different languages of our international partners.

April 2015

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

Glasgow City Council

Education Services in Glasgow City Council has a number of links with Malawi and we also have a very wide range of international activity through partnerships supported by British Council, such as Comenius and Connecting Classrooms. These are extensive across the city and change and evolve each year which is why I have not submitted a list, although the British Council recognises Education Services as one of the UK’s leading authorities for international education. We would be happy to contribute through our international officer should further information be required.

I am attaching a link to our 2014 progress report and in 2015 we were successful in attracting funding from the International Development Fund to support our work in Malawi.

Maureen McKenna Executive Director of Education

April 2015

Progress Report 2014: Malawi Leaders of Learning Improving Learning and Teaching in Glasgow and Malawi

Connecting Scotland – how Scottish organisations engage internationally

North Ayrshire Council

I refer to your email dated 20 March 2015, and attach a table which outlines areas in which North Ayrshire Council engages internationally.

North Ayrshire Council International Engagement

Name of initiative Brief Description Contact for further details

Largs Town Twinning Largs is twinned with Andernos-les-Bains in France. Since the twinning [email protected] agreement was signed in 2009 there has been extensive interactions including visits, twin town games and engagement across schools.

Irvine Town Twinning Irvine is twinned with Voisins in France. Since these towns were twinned in [email protected] 2005 several reciprocal visits have taken place between residents of the 2 towns allowing citizens to share friendships, traditions and cultural interests.

Policy advice on The council has hosted visits from Mid and East Antrim District Council who Morna Rae community planning are keen to learn from our Community Planning experience. A NAC staff Tel 1294 324177 member also visited the Mid and East Antrim Council to provide additional advice.

North Ayrshire Council Development of a strategy on Inward Investment and Export activity Matt Strachan International strategy Tel : 01294 225165

Planning Committee As part of the Peace Dividend, responsibility for Planning is being returned [email protected] training to the Councils in Northern Ireland. The Council has hosted training and networking events with Councils from both Mid Ulster Council and Lisburn and Castlreagh City Council on planning training and Member engagement in the planning procedures. April 2015 Connecting Scotland: How Scottish organisations engage internationally

Outer Hebrides LEADER Local Action Group

QUESTIONS

This response is on behalf of the Outer Hebrides LEADER Local Action Group (LAG). The LAG is a public-private partnership which manages and administers the local LEADER programme on behalf of the Outer Hebridean community. The LEADER approach is about proactive ‘animation’ (‘animating a territory’) and developing links between actions for the development of the rural economy. In this way the LEADER approach builds social and economic capital and is also about the added value that flows from the bottom-up and partnership approach with better identification of local needs and local solutions, more engagement on the part of local stakeholders and greater scope for innovation. A key feature of this is the cooperation element of the programme.

Transnational and inter-territorial cooperation have become increasingly important aspects of LEADER and assists with expanding the knowledge of rural stakeholders by working in partnerships to find innovative solutions to common issues that the group might not have considered previously.

As the ENRD (European Network for Rural Development) website states ‘Transnational cooperation (TNC) is more than just networking. It encourages and supports a Local Action Group to undertake a joint action with another LEADER group, or with a group taking a similar approach, in another region, Member State, or even a third country. The general objective of TNC is to help rural actors to improve the potential of their local areas.’ In Scotland, especially in the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme, there is going to be a greater emphasis on Co-operation as each Local Action Group are required to commit at least 10% of their local LEADER funding allocations on this action.

Projects take place when two groups with similar aspirations and not hailing from the same county or country wish to develop a project innovatively. The groups visit each other’s bases, take part in activities and meetings to identify what skills can be transferred, how groups can learn from each other’s practices and traditions and how to work together in the future. Knowledge transfer, developing new systems and processes, becoming more efficient, environmentally sustainable and economical are some of the benefits that arise from groups and businesses being involved in Co- operation projects.

LEADER would support projects wishing to undertake international co-operation in any sector however by way of illustration in the 2007-2013 Programme the Outer Hebrides LEADER LAG supported one project with Ceolas (a local cultural, heritage and arts organisation) who have strong links with the islands diaspora and they were

1 investigating similar Oral Song Traditions in Finland and Brittany against the Gaelic traditions in Uist and therefore heritage and language were the main components of this co-operation. Another example was the support that ‘Outer Hebrides Tourism’ received to develop a Nature Tourism project with tourism groups in Finland, Hungary, France, Portugal, England and Cape Verde. In this project each area held an international conference inviting the partners to transfer their knowledge, view how similar actions are undertaken in other countries and provide opportunities to all learn from each other. This was also a highly successful co-operation project.

2. Do you think your sector and/ or organisation is effective in participating in international activities? If not, what would help you to make improvements? What prevents you from making improvements now?

The 2007-2013 Scottish LEADER Programme was not as effective in undertaking co-operation projects as previous programmes however as previously mentioned this is changing for the 2014-2020 Programme. Where 10% of each area’s grant allocation requires to be committed and spent on Co-operation Projects.

The Scottish Government, through the Scottish Rural Network, are also committing more resources to supporting LAGs through the process by employing dedicated personnel to assist with developing Co-operation projects. They will also cover up to 100% of any preparatory costs when designing and developing the projects before its roll-out. Both these resources will be invaluable to LAGs to ensure that the Co- operation is successful and beneficial.

LEADER LAGs also receive support through ELARD (European LEADER Association for Rural Development) and ENRD (European Network for Rural Development) who provide useful information and opportunities to view potential links and co-operation partners on a dedicated transnational co-operation portal.

3. What should organisations in Scotland do to be effective internationally? Are you aware of any good examples of this from Scotland or another country?

LEADER is an excellent mechanism to enable co-operation to take place between groups who would otherwise not have known about each other, their similarities and common interests and can therefore learn from each other.

To be able to effectively co-operate internationally groups and organisations require to be more confident in their products, services and idea’s to enable them to share their knowledge and experiences with others and be open to learning from other groups from other countries and not to be afraid of change. This not only fosters opportunities to develop innovative solutions but to also allow them to integrate new practices learned from other countries into their structures.

Examples were provided in Question 1.

April 2015

EU/S4/15/8/4

European and External Relations Committee 8th Meeting, 2015 (Session 4), Thursday 14 May 2015

Annual Report

Background

1. Under Rule 12.9, committees are required to report on their activities during the previous parliamentary year. The report must include “details of its meetings” and the number of times it has met in private. The report must also explain how the committee has taken account of equal opportunities in its work.

2. The Conveners Group has previously agreed to recommend that committees adopt a standard approach for these reports, including a word-limit of 1,500 words and some standard headings. The report has therefore been drafted to take this into account.

Decision

3. The Committee is invited to consider and agree the attached report for the previous parliamentary year.

Katy Orr Clerk to the Committee

EU/S4/15/8/4

Introduction

The Committee reports to the Parliament as follows—

1. This report covers the work of the European and External Relations Committee during the parliamentary year from 11 May 2014 to 10 May 2015. Inquiries and reports

Scottish Government’s proposals on an independent Scotland’s membership of the European Union

2. The Committee concluded its inquiry into the Scottish Government’s proposals on an independent Scotland’s membership of the European Union, publishing its report on 23 May 2014. A committee debate was held in the Chamber on 4 June 2014.

3. The Committee also held three roundtable evidence sessions on the Scottish Government’s White Paper on independence. These focused on the Scottish Government’s proposals for international development; citizenship and immigration; and membership of international organisations in an independent Scotland.

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

4. The Committee conducted an inquiry into the implications of TTIP – the trade agreement currently being negotiated between the European Union and the United States. As part of this inquiry the Committee held roundtable evidence sessions with key stakeholders, and then took evidence from the European Commission’s Deputy Chief Negotiator, the UK Government Minister for Trade and Investment and the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy.

5. The Committee published a report on 17 March 2015. The report included a number of conclusions and recommendations for the European Commission, the UK Government and the Scottish Government in relation to TTIP. The Committee also agreed to continue its work on TTIP for the remainder of the parliamentary session, particularly in relation to proposals for Investor State Dispute Settlement mechanisms and the impact of the eventual agreement on public services. A debate on the Committee’s report was held in the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament on 29 April 2015.

Connecting Scotland: how Scotland can engage most effectively in a globalising world

6. The Committee launched a major inquiry into how Scotland can engage most effectively in a globalising world. The inquiry will have four strands: how the EU/S4/15/8/4

Scottish Government and its agencies engage internationally; how Scottish organisations engage internationally; Scotland’s physical, virtual and social connectivity with the world; and the value of membership of international organisations to Scotland and Scotland’s relationship with them.

7. The Committee launched a call for evidence and took oral evidence on the first strand of the inquiry on how the Scottish Government and its agencies engage internationally. It also launched the second strand on how organisations in Scotland engage internationally.

The European Union Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds

8. The Committee kept a watching brief on the ESI funds as the Partnership Agreement between the UK and the European Commission was finally agreed and the operation programmes finalised. The Committee considered two updates from the Scottish Government on ESI funds in June and December 2014. The Committee intends to undertake fact-finding visits at an appropriate time on the implementation of EU funded programmes across Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s draft budget

9. As part of the annual budget process, the Committee scrutinised the Scottish Government’s proposals for the Europe and External Affairs (EEA) portfolio in the Draft Budget 2015-16.

10. In its report on the Draft Budget 2015-16, the Committee welcomed the achievement of the Scottish Government in spending its entire budget for 2013- 14, and called on the Scottish Government to ensure that this continued in future years without significant transfers being made out of the EEA budget. The Committee also concluded that it would welcome more evidence in future years on value for money, outcomes, and priorities for the EEA budget line.

Convener and Committee members with HE Andris Teikmanis, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia in the UK

EU/S4/15/8/4

EU Presidency evidence sessions

11. The Committee held an evidence session on 9 October 2014 with the Italian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, HE Pasquale Terracciano, on Italy’s priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union and their relevance to Scotland. On 12 March 2015, the Committee took evidence from HE Andris Teikmanis, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia in the UK, on Latvia’s priorities for its six-month Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

Scrutiny of the Scottish Government on EU issues

12. A key aspect of the Committee’s role is to scrutinise the Scottish Government’s engagement on EU issues. The Committee therefore sought to complement the EU Presidency evidence sessions by taking evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs on the Scottish Government’s priorities for each six-month presidency period.

13. The Committee receives a number of reports every six months from the Scottish Government on the Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation; an area of major focus in previous years and an area of continuing interest for this Committee. The Committee also considers updates every six months on the transposition of EU legislation, ensuring effective scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s progress in transposing EU directives within the required timescale and providing the opportunity to raise questions with the Scottish Government if there is a delay in transposition.

Engagement and Innovation

14. The Committee has sought to engage widely on the EU and international relations issues. The Convener has hosted and spoken at a number of events, including, for example an event organised by the Hansard Society and the European Parliament on TTIP. The Committee’s Connecting Scotland inquiry has a strong engagement element, with the Committee planning external visits and meetings as part of the inquiry.

Convener Christina McKelvie hosts an event on TTIP organised by the Hansard Society EU/S4/15/8/4

15. The Committee has continued to develop its use of social media by engaging with its followers on its Twitter account, and has also engaged via the Parliament’s Facebook and Twitter account.

Scottish Parliament European Union strategy

16. 2014 saw elections to the European Parliament and the appointment of the new College of Commissioners for the European Commission. The Committee therefore agreed to consider the implications of the changes in the political makeup of the European Parliament, the focus of the Scottish MEPs for the next parliamentary session and the approach of the new College of Commissioners as part of the annual EU strategy. It took evidence from some of Scotland’s MEPs and from the Head of the European Commission representation to the UK to inform its consideration of the new European Commission work programme and its priorities.

17. Under the EU strategy, the committees reported on their EU scrutiny for the previous year and identified their priorities for the forthcoming year. The Committee published its report on the EU engagement and scrutiny by the parliamentary committees over the last year and priorities for EU engagement in the coming year on 12 March 2015, and the report was debated in the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament on 22 April 2015.

Equalities

18. The Committee continued to mainstream equalities issues throughout the parliamentary year as part of its ongoing work. For example, it launched the second strand of its Connecting Scotland inquiry with Indepen-dance, an inclusive dance group at Scottish Ballet’s headquarters in Glasgow.

Christina McKelvie, Convener, and Hanzala Malik, Deputy Convener, launch second strand of the Connecting Scotland Inquiry with Indepen-dance at the Scottish Ballet, Glasgow.

EU/S4/15/8/4

Meetings

19. During the reporting period, the Committee met the Committee met 18 times and nine meetings were held partly in private and two wholly in private. 13 items were taken in private, six to consider draft reports, four for consideration of approaches to inquiries and three to consider the Committee’s work programme. All meetings were held in Edinburgh.

EU/S4/15/8/5

European and External Relations Committee

8th Meeting, 2015 (Session 4), Thursday 14th May 2015

Brussels Bulletin

Introduction

1. The latest Brussels Bulletin – Issue 2015/6 - is attached in annexe.

Recommendation

2. The Committee is invited to indicate whether it would like any follow-up actions for any of the items contained in the Brussels Bulletin and to agree to forward it on to relevant committees for their consideration.

Katy Orr Clerk

Issue 2015/6

This issue includes news from 20 March 2015 to 6 May 2015

Contents General, Cross-cutting & Institutional Affairs ...... 2 Economy, Energy and Enterprise ...... 3 Transport and Infrastructure ...... 7 Environment, Climate, Rural and Fisheries ...... 7 Employment, Skills and Education ...... 8 Health and Sport ...... 8 Justice and Home Affairs ...... 9 Regional Policy ...... 10 Upcoming Events and Meetings ...... 11

General, Cross-cutting & Institutional Affairs

Scottish EU Funding Portal On 1 April, a partnership between Scotland Europa, Scottish Government, East of Scotland European Consortium and West of Scotland European Forum jointly launched the Scottish EU Funding Portal. The Portal is a new free on-line resource for organisations and businesses interested in EU funding and transnational project collaboration.

It has been developed in response to demand from Scottish stakeholders to establish a single source of information on EU funding programmes for which Scotland is eligible.

With increased emphasis on SME participation in EU programmes in the 2014-20 programming period; on supporting the whole innovation chain from research to getting good ideas to market; and the more pronounced presence of financial instruments; the Portal will be a useful tool to help businesses and stakeholders access this funding.

The portal has a number of objectives:

. Improving and broadening knowledge of EU programmes leading to a greater variety and uptake of EU funds. . Increasing regional, national and transnational project collaboration and knowledge exchange . Creating a higher profile in Europe for Scottish organisations and businesses, and their areas of expertise The Scottish EU Funding Portal provides information to registered users about opportunities in the EU Programmes and guides users to contacts and organisations which can provide support with the development of an EU project. It also includes a Partner Search area, and a blog allowing all users to share news, publications and details of events.

The Scottish EU Funding Portal is a partnership project between Scotland Europa,

Better Regulation The European Commission will present a new strategy for ‘Better Regulation’ during May. A leaked draft of the strategy has provided some indication of the strategy’s potential content.

The leaked draft includes:

. The establishment of a web portal where each legislative initiative can be tracked . More opportunities for citizens to provide feedback and suggestions on draft legislation . New integrated Guidelines on Better Regulation . Applying the “Think Small First” principle more thoroughly . A new and reinforced Regulatory Scrutiny Board to take the place of the Impact Assessment Board . A new stakeholder platform on the Commission’s Regulatory Fitness (REFIT) initiative, chaired by First Vice-President Frans Timmermans

The leaked document also suggests that the Commission will call on the European Parliament and Council to:

. Carry out an impact assessment on any substantial amendments they propose during the legislative process . Ensure that laws already in effect have been properly evaluated, to see whether existing tools could be used to do the job before considering any new initiatives . Include monitoring and evaluation provisions in every new law . Urge Member States to avoid ‘gold plating’ of EU rules

The above is subject to change when the final strategy is published.

Economy, Energy and Enterprise

European Fund for Strategic Investments On 23 April, the European Parliament and Member State governments began negotiations on the proposed European Fund for Strategic Investments, the main strand of the European Commission’s new Investment Plan.

The Plan aims to mobilise €315 billion in investment in the European economy over the next three years, undertake targeted initiatives to ensure this investment meets the needs of the real economy, and provide greater regulatory predictability and remove barriers to investment. On 13 January, the Commission published a proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the main strand of the Investment Plan. The proposed EFSI would comprise €16 billion from the EU budget (half of which in the form of a guarantee), and a commitment of €5 billion from the European Investment Bank’s own reserves.

Member State governments adopted their position on the EFSI in March and on 20 April, the European Parliament’s Economic and Budget Committees adopted the Parliament’s negotiating position EFSI. 69 MEPs voted in favour of the position with, 13 against, and six abstentions.

The Parliament’s position favours preserving the budgets for the Horizon 2020 and Connecting Europe Facility funding programmes and instead seeking to take advantage of EU budget flexibility to ensure that the EFSI’s guarantee fund reaches €8 billion by 2022. The Member States support the Commission’s proposal of cutting €2.7 billion from Horizon 2020 and €3.3 billion from the Connecting Europe Facility in order to fund the guarantee, with it reaching €8 billion by 2020.

Another area of contention is European Parliament control over the governance of the EFSI. MEPs are seeking powers to approve the investment committee (which will decide which projects the EFSI invests in), annual vetting of the EFSI’s operations by the Parliament, and a scoreboard of the EFSI’s macroeconomic performance.

The Parliament also states that third parties financing EFSI (such as national promotional banks) should not be guaranteed votes on the steering board (which will define the EFSI’s risk profile and

investment guidelines). The Member States’ negotiating position proposes limiting steering board membership to representatives of the European Investment Bank and the European Commission, rather than allocating members and votes based on financial contributions, as was proposed by the Commission.

The European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee had proposed earmarking €5 billion for energy efficiency projects, and a further €5 billion for SME projects. Following discussions between Committee Chairs, this did not make it into the Parliament’s final negotiating position, and will not be on the table in negotiations with the Member States.

In the first negotiating round, MEPs and Member State representatives committed to reaching agreement as quickly as possible, to allow for a final adoption of the EFSI in the summer. Initial discussions focused on the working method for the negotiations. The main sticking points in the negotiations are likely to be the funding of the EFSI and cuts to funding programmes; Parliament’s oversight of the EFSI; and the scope of the projects to be financed (the principle of ‘additionality’, which Member States emphasised).

The Commission is seeking to show its commitment to the EFSI by sending a Vice-President to represent the institution (which plays a supporting role in the negotiations) in each round of discussions. In the first round Budgets Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva stood in for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness Vice-President Jyrki Katainen.

Digital Single Market On 6 May the European Commission published its Digital Single Market Strategy, including 16 initiatives to be delivered by the end of 2016. The Strategy has three overarching aims:

. Enabling better access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services across Europe. . Creating the right conditions and a level playing field for digital networks and innovative services to flourish. . Maximising the growth potential of the digital economy.

Forthcoming initiatives include:

. Harmonised rules on contracts and consumer protection when buying online . A review of the Regulation on Consumer Protection Cooperation . More efficient and affordable parcel delivery . Ending unjustified ‘geo-blocking’ . An antitrust competition inquiry into the e-commerce sector . Legislative proposals before the end of 2015 on copyright law . A review of the Satellite and Cable Directive . Reduced administrative burden due to different VAT regimes . An overhaul of telecoms rules, including incentives for investment in high-speed broadband and more effective spectrum coordination . A review of the audiovisual media framework

. Analysis of the role of online platforms (search engines, social media, app stores, etc.) in the market . A review of the e-Privacy Directive . A proposed partnership with industry on cyber-security . A proposed ‘European free flow of data initiative’ . A European Cloud initiative . Defined priorities for standards and interoperability in critical areas such as e-health and transport planning . A new e-government action plan . Accelerated roll-out of e-procurement

Heads of State or Government will discuss the Strategy at the European Council Summit on 25-26 June.

Defence industry European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elżbieta Bieńkowska has established a high-level group to advise on research to support the future of the European defence industry. The first meeting took place on 30 March.

Biofuels On 28 April, the final text proposal by the Council of the EU on the Directive relating to biofuels and indirect land-use change (ILUC) was accepted by the European Parliament at its plenary session in Strasbourg. The proposed legislation amends the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive and the Fuel Quality Directive and is the outcome of tough negotiations between the Council of the EU and the European Parliament that took place in March 2015.

The main aim of the draft Directive is to support the transition from conventional biofuels from food crops to advanced biofuels from wastes, residues and other non-food crop sources through a legislative framework that, among other measures, places a 7% cap on conventional biofuels in the transport sector which can be counted towards 2020 renewable energy targets. The new law also requires Member States to set national targets for conventional biofuels with an indicative level set in the Directive of 0.5%. The final text will be reviewed and then will be formally adopted by the Council, possibly under the Latvian Presidency and the Directive will enter into force in 2017.

Fossil Fuel Subsidies The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, has published a policy discussion paper comparing the scale of pre- and post-tax fossil fuel subsidies around the globe. The report argues that current low energy prices present a chance to start smoothly reforming fossil fuel subsidies, which could facilitate stronger fiscal positions and improve growth through a decrease in economic distortions and alleviation of climate change due to lower CO2 emissions.

Generalised pre-tax subsidies are still found mostly in developing countries and have been gradually phased out in advanced economies. Furthermore, the report suggests that a reform

process of the removal of fossil fuel subsidies should be planned and communicated cautiously, as it is crucial that such reform is supported by the electorate and that those who suffer from energy poverty are protected with suitable countermeasures.

Renewable Energy According to the 2014 edition of the EurObserv’ER report on renewable energy in the EU, there is a marked difference between Member States in their progress towards the EU’s 2020 renewable energy target (a collective target of sourcing 20% of the EU’s energy from renewable sources, which is broken down into differentiated, individual national targets for each Member State).

Whereas Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Sweden had already reached their renewable energy targets for 2020 by 2013, the three Member States with the largest energy use are making slow progress, with France achieving 62.5%, Germany 67.8% and the United Kingdom only achieving 34.5% of their individual targets. In light of this, the report argues that a large proportion of the outstanding efforts required to reach the EU’s collective target of sourcing 20% of energy from renewables will have to be made by the Member States with the greatest energy use.

The report also highlights Scottish strengths in ocean energy.

Capital Markets Union European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union Jonathan Hill recently took part in a web chat on Capital Markets Union. Capital Markets Union refers to a range of forthcoming legislative and non-legislative measures to boost the single market for non-bank financing in the EU. Hill made the following points: . CMU aims to increase the availability of capital for businesses of all sizes, at all stages of their development; overcome barriers to cross border investment; and support existing local ‘eco- systems’. . Through the CMU consultation, the Commission hopes to learn more about how best to foster equity market integration, crowdfunding, venture capital, and environmental, social and governance investments. . Pension funds can provide a significant source of capital and help to deal with the EU’s demographic challenges. . New technology is changing the face of financial services and will be an important driver in the integration of capital markets. . The stock market should be as large as companies need it to be. . Businesses need stability. The Commission will reduce the volume of new financial regulation and examine the cumulative impact of existing legislation. A consultation on Capital Markets Union closes on 13 May. A Capital Markets Union Action Plan, partially based on consultation responses, will be published by the end of 2015.

Transport and Infrastructure

Sustainable transport On 23 April the European Commission announced the creation of a new forum to draw together national authorities, public bodies and private organisations with responsibilities in developing and deploying alternative fuel and energy infrastructures across the EU. The Sustainable Transport Forum (STF) will aim to guide the implementation of the Directive on the Deployment of Alternative Fuels Infrastructure, which came into force in October 2014. Besides facilitating the implementation of this Directive, the aim of the STF is also to support the Commission in the wider application of its Clean Power for Transport strategy.

In particular, the role of the STF will be to provide advice to the Commission on the development and implementation of legislation, policies, projects and programmes in the field of alternative transport fuels and contribute towards an energy-efficient, decarbonised transport sector. The body is also expected to facilitate exchanges of information on initiatives, projects and partnerships dealing with alternative transport fuels.

Environment, Climate, Rural and Fisheries

Forests At a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 20 April, Ministers adopted the EU’s position for the Eleventh Session of the Union Nations Forum on Forests, which is taking place from 4-15 May. The conclusions state that a post-2015 International Agreement on Forests should:

. Build long-term high level political commitment to forests . Strengthen a common international understanding of the concept of sustainable forest management. . Enhance policy coherence. . Foster links between the global forest agenda and the post-2015 development agenda. . Galvanize the interest and support of the private sector and other stakeholders in the global forest agenda.

The UK was represented at Council by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming, Food and Marine Environment Rupert de Mauley.

Milk and fruit in schools The European Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Development Committee has adopted its position on a proposed Regulation merging existing schemes providing milk and fruit for schoolchildren. MEPs want:

. To extend the list of foodstuffs eligible for EU funding to include local milk products with proven beneficial effects for children’s health.

. Member States to earmark 10-20% of the EU funding they receive for educational activities, for example to promote healthy eating. . An additional €20 million a year for the measures covering milk, bringing annual funding for milk and milk products up to €100 million, with €150 million for fruit and vegetables. . A fairer distribution of EU funds, with two core criteria: the proportion of six to ten year old children in the population and the degree of development of the region within the Member State. Once the Member States have reached their position in the Council, negotiations can begin with the objective of adopting the final legislation. In June 2014, Ministers discussed the following issues in relation to the proposal:

. The legal basis . The balance between the basic act and the delegated powers . The overall scope of the schemes . The financial provisions and potential administrative burden

Employment, Skills and Education

Social Investment A European Commission-commissioned report by the European Social Policy Network has found that Member States have made progress towards modernising their social protection systems, buts there is still work to be done.

The 2013 Social Investment Package called on the Member States to prioritise investments in human capital and to modernise their welfare states in response to the effects of the global financial crisis.

The UK is found to be part of a group of Member States, without an established or explicit social investment approach to social welfare, but which have shown an increasing awareness of social investment in a few specific policy areas. In addition, the report highlights that the UK has seen a decline in the development of social policy due to the economic crisis, with a policy emphasis on reducing public budget deficits. In particular, the UK continues to see social policy as focused on protecting those in disadvantaged situations rather than on producing policies to prevent them from being in such situations.

Health and Sport

Alcohol On 28 April, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission to launch a new alcohol strategy to enter force in 2016. The resolution emphasises prevention and education for young people, and the importance of more informative drinks labelling. MEPs also call on Member States to carefully consider the appropriateness of introducing national policies

9 aimed at preventing the sale of very cheap alcohols.

The EU’s current alcohol strategy was launched in 2006. It was intended to assist Member State governments and relevant stakeholders in coordinating their efforts to reduce harm caused by the misuse of alcohol, putting forward guidance on issues such as underage drinking and drink- driving, but did not initiate specific EU legislation. The European Commission is currently reviewing the potential of updating the alcohol strategy.

Justice and Home Affairs

Justice The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee has adopted its position on a proposed Directive to ensure the right to a fair trial by setting out common minimum standards on certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and of the right to be present at trial in criminal proceedings.

MEPs want to:

. Ban public authority statements that presume guilt before a final conviction or before or after a final acquittal . Cover legal persons in these EU rules . Ensure that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution and that “any doubt always benefits the suspect or accused persons” . Ensure that suspects or accused persons are not considered guilty simply because they exercise their rights to remain silent, to not incriminate oneself, and to not cooperate . Stress that any evidence obtained in violation of suspects’ rights or by torture is inadmissible MEPs also deleted from the proposal a provision that would have made it possible in limited cases to “compel” a suspect or accused person to provide information relating to charges against them.

The Member States adopted their position on the proposal in December 2014, allowing negotiations to start between the institutions, with the objective of adopting final legislation. Once adopted, governments will have a certain time period in which to transpose the Directive into national legislation.

Migration On 23 April 2015, European Leaders convened for a special meeting of the European Council to discuss the issue of migration. European leaders acknowledged that the Mediterranean is one of the deadliest routes on the globe, following the deaths of more than 800 people, who died on 19 April in an attempt to reach the EU. During the meeting, European Leaders stated that preventing more people from dying at sea is currently an immediate priority for all EU Member States.

Leaders committed to tackling the issue of human trafficking. In particular, they agreed that the EU

10 will actively support the efforts carried out in Libya by the UN aiming to establish government authority, as the current instability in this country creates the perfect conditions for criminal actions of traffickers. Leaders agreed to address conflict and instability as key push factors of migration, including Syria.

Leaders also committed to strengthening the EU presence at sea, by tripling the financial resources of EU Operations Triton and Poseidon for the years 2015 and 2016. They also agreed that traffickers should be fought according to international law, focusing in particular on the disruption of trafficking networks and destruction of vessels before they can be used for trafficking purposes. Strengthening dialogue and cooperation with the African Union was another point agreed during the meeting. In this regard, Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Mali and Niger will benefit stronger support from all EU countries in the process towards their political stabilisation.

Other important measures discussed during the European Council special meeting concerned the EU’s internal responsibility and solidarity. In this regard, European leaders called for the implementation of the Common European Asylum System, in order to achieve the same standard all over Europe and urged Member States to organise emergency relocation on a voluntary basis.

Regional Policy

Rural, remote and mountainous areas On 12 March, a new Rural, Mountainous and Remote Areas (RUMRA) Intergroup of the European Parliament was officially launched at an event in Strasbourg, opened by Italian MEP, former President of the Committee of the Regions and Chair of the intergroup Mercedes Bresso. The main aim of this new Intergroup is to represent the views of citizens and businesses located in non-urbanised areas of the EU within the legislative process.

The intergroup will consist of six subgroups, including: Resource and financing for rural integrated development; RURBAN (Rural and urban interrelations); Climate change and Energy; Living nowadays in rural areas (community, Rural Tourism); Territorial quality products; and Ultra peripheral and remote regions.

Upcoming Events and Meetings

May June 11-12 Agriculture and Fisheries Council 1-2 Informal Agriculture and Fisheries Council 12 Economic and Financial Affairs 8-11 European Parliament Plenary Council 18-21 European Parliament Plenary 8 Energy Council 18-19 Education, Youth, Culture and Sport 9-10 Informal Cohesion Council Council 18 Foreign Affairs Council 11-12 Justice and Home Affairs Council 19 General Affairs Council 11 Transport Council 26 Foreign Affairs Council 12 Telecommunications Council (Development) 28-29 Competitiveness Council 31 Informal Agriculture and Fisheries 15 Environment Council Council 16 Agriculture and Fisheries Council 18 Employment Council 19 Health Council 19 Economic and Financial Affairs Council 22 Foreign Affairs Council 23 General Affairs Council 25-26 European Council Summit