Call for evidence: External Affairs
The Scottish Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into the future of Scottish Government’s external affairs policy in the context of exiting the EU.
Introduction
The Scottish Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee is seeking written submissions on the Scottish Government’s external affairs policy in the context of Brexit. Given the currently fluid nature of the Brexit process, the Committee’s inquiry will examine how the Scottish Government’s external affairs policy should evolve, where resources should be allocated to meet strategic priorities and what lessons might be drawn from other countries.
Context
Currently, the Scottish Government’s engagement with EU Members States is structured through Innovation and Investment Hub offices in Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, London and Paris. The Scottish Government’s stated aims for the Hub offices are:
• promoting Scotland’s research, innovation, industrial, social and cultural strengths
• building diplomatic government-to-government relations
• pursuing cultural collaborations, and
• exploring collaborative research and innovation opportunities Further information on the Hub offices can be accessed at— https://www.gov.scot/policies/europe/innovation-and-investment-hubs/
The Scottish Government’s ‘International Framework’ sets out the Government’s wider approach to external relations. In addition, the Scottish Government has a number of engagement strategies in place with Canada, China, India, Pakistan, and the United States.
The Scottish Government also has an ‘International Development Policy’ which seeks to enable the Scottish Government to play a part in tackling global challenges including poverty, injustice and inequality. Furthermore, Scottish Development International have offices in a range of countries which promote international trade and investment between Scotland and other countries.
Call for views
The Committee’s external affairs inquiry will have two distinct strands. Firstly, engaging with the European Union and secondly, Scotland’s engagement with the rest of the world. The Committee would welcome views on the following issues that fall within these overarching themes and any other contribution you feel is relevant to the inquiry.
Engaging with the European Union
• What principles should inform the focus of the Scottish Government’s external affairs policy with regard to the European Union?
• Are there examples of best practice for ways in which nations / regions from non-EU Member States engage with and influence the EU?
• What should be the focus of the business plans for the Scottish Government Innovation and Investment Hub offices in Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, London and Paris be?
• How can the Scottish Government Innovation and Investment Hub offices best support the Scottish Government’s external affairs policy?
• How can the Scottish Government’s Innovation and Investment Hub offices be evaluated effectively?
• How should the Innovation and Investment Hub offices most effectively engage with other Scottish organisations such as Scottish Development International and Visit Scotland?
