Ministerial visits within Europe: 2017

View ministerial visits made in other years.

11 December
Mr Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity
Fisheries Council

Mr Ewing attended this year's Fisheries Council on 11-12 December. Overall, a good deal was secured for Scotland in financial terms with a package of quota worth around £440 million available to the Scottish fleet in 2018, up £44 million on 2017. However in spite of intense efforts by the Scottish Government to secure a more favourable outcome for West Coast fishermen, the deal included an extremely difficult cut of -26% in the Total Allowable Catch for west coast Nephrops (Norway lobster or prawns).

Mr Ewing also hosted a reception in Scotland House on the Monday evening for Industry delegations. A number of Member State delegations also attended.

22 November
Mr Michael Russell, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe
SCER/EPC Event

On Wednesday 22 November, Michael Russell, Minister for UK Negotiations for Scotland's Place in Europe, visited Brussels. The Minister met with the UK Permanent Representative to the EU and Danuta Huebner. The Minister also gave a key note speech to open the panel event: The Future of the EU and the Future of the UK, Scotland and EU27 Relationship, hosted by Scotland House Brussels, but jointly organised by the Scottish Centre on European Relations and the European Policy Centre. The event was well attended by a wide range of key senior Brussels officials and stakeholders. Panellists included Fabian Zuleeg (Chief Exec, EPC), Lord John Kerr (former diplomat), Kirsty Hughes (Director, SCER), Danuta Huebner (Chair, Constitutional Affairs Committee, European Parliament).

17 October
Mr Michael Russell, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe
EPC Event

Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, Michael Russell, visited Brussels to take part in a policy dialogue panel event at the European Policy Centre on 'How Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland view Brexit'. The Minister delivered a keynote speech and took part in a question and answer session alongside Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Welsh Government and Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Professor of Politics, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Ulster University. During this visit, Mr Russell also met with Guy Verhofstadt MEP, the European Parliament chief Brexit negotiator.

13 October
Ms Rosanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
Environment Council in Luxembourg

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham, attended Environment Council in Luxembourg. The Council agreed a general approach on proposals for regulating the non-Emission Trading Scheme sector's contribution to the 2030 climate and energy framework and a proposed regulation on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry. This will allow the Estonian Presidency to open negotiations with the European Parliament. Council also agreed their priorities in advance of COP 23 to be held in Bonn in November 2017. Ms Cunningham held bilateral meetings with Ireland's Environment and Energy Minister Denis Naughton, United Nation Environment Programme's Executive Director Mr Solheim and the Director General of the European Commission's DG Environment Daniel Calleja.

11-12 October
Ms Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
Friends of Europe

The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, was in Brussels to attend the Friends of Europe annual conference. The Cabinet Secretary was a discussant at the high-level roundtable on "Populism and the politics of pan-Europeanism" where the Cabinet Secretary made an intervention. The Cabinet Secretary had subsequent meetings with Bogdan Zdrojewski MEP, Philippe Lamberts MEP and the Minister-President of Flanders Geert Bourgeois.

25-26 September 2017
Mr Michael Russell, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe
European Parliament

Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, Michael Russell visited Brussels for a round of engagement with Members of the European Parliament (including Mairead McGuinness, Gianni Pittella, Lady Nosheena Mobarik, David Martin and David McAllister). He also met with senior UK Brussels-based officials.

25 September 2017
Ms Rosanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
Green 10 NGOs

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Rosanna Cunningham met with the Green 10 (G10), (ten of the largest environmental organisations and networks active on the European level) in Brussels on Monday 25 September. Discussion was held around the Scottish Government's priorities in environment and climate change policy.

30-31 July 2017
Mr John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Passchendaele Commemorations

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney, attended The National Commemoration of the Centenary of Passchendaele – Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium on 30 & 31 July which marked the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Ypres.

13 July 2017
Ms Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland
First Minister meeting with Michael Barnier

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, was in Brussels on 13 July 2017 to meet Michel Barnier, the European Commission's appointed Chief Negotiator for the Article 50 Negotiations. The First Minister issued the following statement after this meeting:

"This was a useful and constructive meeting and I welcomed the opportunity to discuss Scotland's priorities with Mr Barnier - in particular our view that the UK should seek to remain in the single market.

I outlined to Mr Barnier that our priority is to protect Scotland's vital economic interests, and that the Scottish Government will do all it can to build a consensus against an extreme Brexit outside the single market, which would have potentially catastrophic consequences for jobs, investment and our living standards.

We have always been clear that this is not about holding separate Scottish negotiations – it is for the UK as the member state to negotiate with the EU – and as such we will continue to work hard to influence the UK position. However, meetings like this are helpful in developing a mutual understanding between the Scottish Government and the EU as these vital negotiations gather pace."

20 June 2017
Mr Michael Russell, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe
Brexit and Citizens' Rights Event

Minster for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, Mr Michael Russell, was in Brussels on 20 June to participate in a conference organised by the European Citizens' Action Service, "Brexit and Citizens' Rights: Where do we go from here?". Mr Russell also hosted a panel discussion and evening reception with the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) in Scotland House and met with the European Parliament's Brexit Negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt MEP, and with the EPP Brexit Advisory Group.

12-13 June 2017
Ms Jeane Freeman, Minister for Social Security
Visit to Strasbourg

Minister for Social Security, Ms Jeane Freeman, visited Strasbourg on 12 and 13 June, accompanied by Sally Witchers, CEO of Inclusion Scotland. Ms Freeman met with Marja Ruotanen, Director at the Human Dignity & Equality Directorate at the Council of Europe. On 13 June, she met with key members of the European Parliament Intergroup on Disabilities and held meetings with MEPs Helga Stevens, Marian Harkin, Guillaume Balas, Ian Duncan, David Martin and Catherine Stihler.

30 May 2017
Mr James Wolffe, The Lord Advocate
European Parliament JURI Committee

The Lord Advocate, Mr James Wolffe QC, was in Brussels on 30 May to give evidence at a hearing on the "Legal consequences of Brexit" at the JURI Committee in the European Parliament. Mr Wolffe also met with the UK's European Commissioner, Sir Julian King.

27 April 2017
Ms Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport
SIMPATHY Event

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Shona Robison, was in Brussels on 27 April to host an event at Scotland House on Active and Healthy Ageing – Addressing the Challenges of Multi-Medication in Europe's Elderly Population. Ms Robison also met with the Deputy Director-General for Health and Food Safety, Martin Seychell, and with Nina Renshaw, Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA).

26 April 2017
Mr Michael Russell, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe
Visit to Brussels and Seafood Expo

The Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, Michael Russell, was in Brussels on 26 April to give the keynote speech at a high level roundtable lunch on 'Perspectives on Brexit' which was hosted by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Policy Centre and ex-President of the European Council. In addition, Mr Russell met a group of MEPs from the Socialists & Democrats group in the European Parliament and met with Scottish seafood producers at the European Seafood Exposition, announcing that Seafood Scotland had been awarded £0.9 million of EU funding to promote and showcase Scottish produce at key trade shows over the next 12 months.

13 March 2017
Mr Michael Russell, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe
Young Scot event

The Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, Michael Russell, was in Brussels on 13 March to host a roundtable event for young Scots and young Europeans that reflected on the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and the future of Europe. While in Brussels, Mr Russell also met with the UK's European Commissioner, Sir Julian King.

6 March 2017
Mr Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity
Agriculture and Fisheries Council

On 06 March, Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels. The Future of the Common Agriculture Policy post 2020 was the most prominent item on the agenda to the Scottish Government. In addition, there were a number of AOBs concerning voluntary coupled support and animal health and welfare issues.

28 February 2017
Ms Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
Environment Council

On 28 February, Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, attended the Environment Council in Brussels. The Cabinet Secretary had a bilateral meeting with the UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities, Therese Coffey, and participated in the EU Council meeting, which had review of the Emission Trading Scheme as the principal agenda item, alongside other items such as discussions on the sustainable development goals and their interaction with environment policy.

30 January 2017
Ms Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
AFCO Committee, European Parliament

On 30 January, Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, appeared before the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee. She set out the Scottish Government's position following the EU Referendum and the proposals in Scotland's Place in Europe and responded to a Q&A session. The meeting was live streamed on the European Parliament's website.

23 January 2017
Mr Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Employability and Training
Employability discussions and annual burns supper

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Employability and Training, was in Brussels on 23 January where he held a series of discussions with key partners in relation to employability. Mr Hepburn visited a training facility in Anderlecht that provides vocational training and support to job seekers to move into employment. That evening, he also hosted the Scottish Government EU Office's annual Burns Supper at the Residence of the UK Permanent Representative to the EU. The Supper provided an opportunity to welcome the new Presidencies of the Council of the EU for 2017, Malta and Estonia.

15 January 2017
Ms Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
Scotland's Place in Europe

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, hosted an event in Brussels on 15 January to discuss the document Scotland's Place in Europe, a set of proposals designed to mitigate the risks for Scotland of being taken out of the EU. The document was published by the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, on 20 December. While in Brussels, Ms Hyslop also met with Belgian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Didier Reynders.