EU Commission (Hansard, 15 September 2004)

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the National Assembly for Wales will be consulted by the Government before the EU Commission publishes proposals relevant to its powers; and if he will make a statement. [188976]

§ Mr. MacShane
The Government are in continual contact with the devolved Administrations about European proposals in their areas of interest, including at Ministerial level, through the Joint Ministerial Committee on Europe (JMC(E)), The Government seeks to reflect the views of the devolved Administrations in the UK negotiating position, which balances the interests of all parts of the UK. In general, the Government are in frequent contact with the devolved Administrations and other relevant parties when responding to specific Commission proposals.

§ Mr. Llwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for the devolved Administrations of the United Kingdom to have representation (a) on relevant United Kingdom delegations in the EU Council of Ministers and (b) in preparatory meetings of COREPER, and if he will make a statement. [188980]

§ Mr. MacShane
Ministers from the devolved Administrations attend meetings of the EU's Council of Ministers when there are items on the agenda within their devolved responsibilities.
Officials from the devolved Administrations are accredited to the delegation of the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union and attend meetings of relevant Council working groups. They are in regular contact with the officials who represent the United Kingdom on these working groups.
During the UK Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2005 an official from the Scottish Executive will chair a Transport Working Group and an official from the Welsh Assembly Government will chair the Culture Working Group. These officials will brief the United Kingdom's Permanent Representative for meetings of COREPER.
Other officials from the devolved Administrations will sit in the United Kingdom seats on a range of other Council working groups during the UK Presidency of the EU.