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SCOTS/IRISH TALKS IN EDINBURGH
28 February 2004
SNP Leader
John Swinney MSP, accompanied by MEPs Ian Hudghton and Neil MacCormick,
hosted a meeting with leading Fianna Fail member Gerard Collins MEP,
former Foreign Minister of Ireland.
With Ireland
currently holding the Presidency of the EU, the SNP team took the
opportunity to explore areas of possible co-operation between Scotland and
Ireland, and underlined their concerns about the effect on Scotland of
some parts of the draft EU Constitution.
Commenting,
Ian Hudghton said:
“Ireland, in
its role as the current President of the European Union, demonstrates very
clearly the advantages which small countries can achieve for themselves
within Europe through exercising the normal powers of Independence. Irish
Ministers are setting the agendas of European Council meetings, and will
oversee the accession of 10 new member states from 1st May, 2004. If
Malta, Estonia, Latvia and other small countries can fulfil their
potential as independent member states of the EU, why not Scotland!” |
