European and External Relations Committee

About The Committee

The European and External Relations Committee was established on 1st June, 2011. The Committee’s role is to consider and report on issues relating to the European Communities and the European Union, the Scottish Government's links with countries and territories outside Scotland and the international activities of the Scottish Government. It has 7 Members and is chaired by Christina McKelvie MSP.

The Committee’s meetings are generally on Thursday mornings and are usually open to the public. Space is limited and places can be booked in advance through Visitor Services (0131 348 5200). Details about individual meetings can be found on the meetings page section of the website.

Further information and related videos

Current Business

Correspondence

Inquiry into the Scottish Government's Country Plan for China and its International Framework

The Committee will conduct its inquiry in two phases. The first phase will be conducted in February and March 2013, when Committee members will visit businesses across Scotland, that export to, or receive investment from, China.

The first visit, which saw the launch of the inquiry, was to the Scottish Salmon Company offices in Edinburgh on 28 February 2013.

View images of the launch

The second phase of the inquiry will take oral evidence from key stakeholders during the Committee's formal meetings in May 2013.

The Committee will publish a report of its findings in June 2013.

Foreign language learning in primary schools

The inquiry has been conducted in three stages:

Phase 1: December 2012 - March 2013

Visits to primary schools to discuss the issues with those most involved.

The launch of Phase 1 was held on 14 December 2012 at Dalmarnock Primary School in Glasgow.

See a video of the launch.

See images of the school visits.

Phase 2: January - March 2013 (overlapping with Phase 1)

Formal evidence from stakeholders with an interest in the subject.

Call for written evidence on the issues involved issued on 14 December 2012.

Phase 3: May - June 2013

A Scottish Parliament conference event was held on Friday 10 May 2013 to discuss key findings from the inquiry. The Committee will publish a formal report of these findings and its recommendations to the Scottish Government in June 2013.

Foreign Language Inquiry Phase 3: conference event - Images and video

Foreign Language Inquiry Phase 3: conference event - Summary of evidence (140KB pdf)

Foreign Language Inquiry Phase 3: conference event - Transcript (305KB pdf)