►
Description
1. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4, and any consideration of draft reports on the Glasgow School of Art at future meetings, in
private.
2. Presidency of the Council of the European Union: The Committee will take evidence fromH.E. Dan Mihalache, Ambassador of Romania to the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland.
3. European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018: The Committee will consider a proposal by the Scottish Government concerning—
The Creative Europe Programme and Europe for Citizens Programme Revocation (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
4. Glasgow School of Art (in private): The Committee will consider a draft report.
Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.
www.parliament.scot // We do not facilitate discussions on our YouTube page but encourage you to share and comment on our videos on your own channels. // If you would like to join in our conversations please follow @ScotParl on Twitter or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/scottishparliament
A
Good
morning
and
welcome
to
the
fifth
meeting
of
the
committee
in
2019,
I'd
like
to
remind
members
in
the
public
to
turn
off
mobile
phones
and
any
members
using
electronic
devices
to
access
committee
papers
should
please
ensure
that
they
are
turned
to
silent
agenda
item
1
as
a
decision
on
taking
business
in
private.
Does
the
committee
agree
to
take
in
private
item
4,
which
is
a
consideration
of
a
draft
and
quietly
report
into
Glasgow
School
of
Art?
Okay.
A
The
next
item
on
the
agenda
today
is
an
evidence
session
with
the
ambassador
of
the
Romania
to
the
United
Kingdom
of
Great
Britain
and
Northern
Ireland,
whose
current
currently
holds
the
presidency
of
the
Council
of
the
European
Union
I'd
like
to
welcome
the
ambassador
and
Dan
mija
Lackey.
Welcome
your
excellency
and
I'd
like
to
invite
the
Ambassador
to
make
a
short
opening
statements.
B
Well,
thank
you
very
much
convener
distinguished
members.
It
is
a
honor
for
me
to
come
before
you
in
the
Scottish
Parliament
to
present
the
priorities
of
the
Romanian
presidency
of
the
Council
of
the
European
Union,
and
it's
also
the
first
time
or
the
second
time.
I
was
once
in
British
Parliament
when
I
am
in
this
position,
because
before
being
the
ambassador
of
Romania
to
the
United
Kingdom
to
the
court
of
st.
James,
I
was
sitting
on
your
side
as
a
former
member
of
the
Parliament.
So
rows
are
switching.
B
About
the
challenges
that
the
European
Union
has,
but
it's
also
an
opportunity
for
us
to
consolidate
to
take
part
in
the
what
means
the
strengthening
of
the
European
project
as
an
opening
statement.
I
want
to
say
true
that
Romania
will
act
as
a
genuine,
an
honest
broker,
an
impartial
mediator
and
the
consensus
facilitator.
It
will
act
in
coordination
with
Finland
and
Croatia
as
the
three
of
the
presidencies,
while
also
ensuring
continuity
with
the
previous
trio
in
achieving
the
objectives
established
by
the
strategic
agenda.
B
Moreover,
this
european
dynamics
are
further
influenced
by
a
rapidly
evolving
general
context,
the
complex
transatlantic
agenda
and
the
advance
of
eurosceptic
rhetoric.
To
mention
just
a
few
of
those
challenges.
As
our
motto
states,
we
consider
cohesion
to
be
a
common
European
value
as
well
an
expression
of
unity
among
the
countries
and
regions
of
the
European
Union.
B
C
B
European
cohesion
at
all,
but
for
a
strong
Europe,
it
is
important
that
we
rediscover
a
cohesive
approach,
trying
to
avoid
differences
between
all
Europe
and
new
Europe,
trying
to
avoid
differences
between
more
developed
States
trying
to
use
the
European
policies
in
development
to
reduce
disparities
between
countries
and
regions.
Our
second
pillar
refers
to
a
safe
Europe,
as
we
cannot
consolidate
the
European
project
without
strengthening
use,
internal
security
by
combating
terrorism
and
radicalization,
ensuring
a
comprehensive
approach
to
migration,
consolidating
the
Schengen
area
and
enhancing
cybersecurity.
B
B
B
B
B
Thank
you
for
this,
and
our
general
consulate
and
I
was
just
trying
to
remember
how
complicated
how
how
fast
history
is
changing.
When
I
I
was
one
of
the
first
members
of
the
European
Parliament
from
Romania
I
got
into
the
European
Parliament
2005
as
an
observer,
because
this
was
the
procedure
in
2007
when
Romania
became
a
full
member.
We
transformed
ourselves
in
members
of
the
European
Parliament
and
then
got
to
the
elections.
B
So
we
were
some
of
generation
which
experienced
something
that
no
generation
will
experience
again
being
member
of
national
parliaments
and
then
getting
into
the
European
Parliament
and
then
okay.
There
were
organised
elections
and
I
remember
10
years
ago
how
the
debates
were.
We
were
talking
about
more
federalism
or
more
national
states,
more
power
to
the
European
institutions
or
more
power
to
the
national
states.
We
were
talking
about
enlargement.
We
were
talking
seriously
about
Moldova
about
Ukraine,
about
the
Balkans,
and
what
are
we
talking
now
about?
B
B
Between
the
European
Union
and
United
Kingdom
to
a
very
positive
approach,
your
place
is,
in
my
view,
in
Europe.
Ok,
people
decided
in
another
way,
but
it's
also
near
to
Europe
and
for
Romania.
It
is
important
from
Europe's
point
of
view,
but
also
from
the
bilateral
point
of
view.
I
am
very
glad
that
during
my
mandate
as
an
ambassador
here,
I
managed
to
to
upgrade
the.
A
B
B
D
B
B
A
B
B
E
And
thank
you.
Convener
and
I
was
interested
in
your
reflections
over
the
past
ten
years
from
when
Romania
joined
the
EU
up
until
the
present
day
in
the
changes
and
you
dip
and
do
destabilize
destabilizing
as
the
UK's
exit,
and
you
mentioned,
the
elections
that
are
coming
up.
Do
you
think,
there's
a
moot
and
yield
up
that
reflects
what
has
happened
in
Britain?
Do
you
talk
about
one
of
the
four
pillars
been
cohesion
and
convergence?
B
B
Prosperity,
freedom
of
which
was
a
problem
in
the
communist
regime.
I
myself,
when
I
was
a
child
I
was
not
allowed
to
travel
with
my
family
abroad.
You
never
experience
this
well.
The
younger
generation
believe
that
studying
in
Edinburgh
here
is
coming
just
like
right.
The
younger
generation
of
Romania
Romanians.
We
have
here.
E
D
B
B
F
You,
convener
and
good
morning,
thank
you
for
attending
I.
Just
wanted
to
pick
up
on
two
separate
points.
The
first
one
was
in
your
opening
statement.
You
talked
about
cohesion
and
the
ambitions
for
greater
cohesion
in
Europe,
say
using
words
like
there
is
currently
a
lack
of
cohesion,
or
perhaps
even
some
division
amongst
member
states,
which
I
think
is
natural
in
a
very
wide
geographic
and
politically
diverse
continent.
F
But
is
it
your
view
that
you
are
trying
to
rediscover
some
form
of
cohesion
that
you
think
previously
existed,
or
is
it
the
case
that
actually
you're
trying
to
create
something
that
was
never
there
in
the
first
place?
So
this
is
a
new
form
of
cohesion
amongst
member
states
who
have
very
different
needs
anxieties.
B
B
B
Supporting
this
objective
and
give
you
some
examples
with
the
Eastern
Partnership,
are
we
still
interested
in
rebuilding
the
Eastern
Partnership
or
not?
Are
we
still
interested
in
including
the
bulk
Balkans
in
the
European
Union
or
not?
What
is
happening
with
our
relationship
is
Turkey,
so
there
are
a
lot
of
questions
and
policies
of
the
European
Union,
which
we
will
have
to
give
an
answer.
B
This
is
about
rediscovered,
rediscovering
a
cohesive
approach
of
the
European
Union.
We
will
see
I.
Remember
not
your
last
question.
It
was
about
elections,
I
believe
probably
will
have
European.
We
will
have
European
and
no
problem
for
sure.
We
will
have
European
elections
from
the
26th
26th
off
of
me.
B
B
B
F
You
for
that
detailed
response
and
I
think
what
it
does
do
is
raises.
Perhaps
more
questions
and
answers
in
terms
of
the
future
of
Europe
I
did
want
to
pick
up
on
the
issue
of
enlarge
and
I'm
glad
you
raised
it
I
think
it's
something
that's
been
talked
about
for
a
number
of
years
through
various
incarnations
of
the
presidency.
As
you
know,
the
U
has
not
expanded
in
any
way
shape
or
form.
Since
2013,
your
presidency
is
quoted
as
saying
that
EU
enlargement
is
high
on
our
agenda.
F
You
are
the
children
of
enlargement
and,
that's
true
to
say
it
may
be
on
your
agenda.
But
do
you
think
it's
on
the
agenda
of
other
countries?
Do
you
foresee
a
situation
where
enlargement
occurs
with
the
Balkan
states
or
Georgia
Moldova,
even
Turkey,
to
an
extent
on
one
hand,
and
then
there
is
the
real
risk
of
potential
of
losing
further
member
states
in
the
West
on
the
other?
Would
that
be
a
real
danger
to
further
enlargement.
B
B
B
B
Are
we
accepting
as
Europe
as
a
whole,
a
type
of
policy
or
we
stick
to
principles
and
and
values
of
freedom,
democracy
and
international
law?
I
must
say
very
particularly
that
for
us
for
Romania,
the
UK
living
the
European
Union
is
a
great
loss,
because
we
had
excellent
cooperation
between
the
UK
and
Romania
in
in
various
fields.
We
stood
to
the
same
positions
in
foreign
policy
in
security
policy,
in
cooperation
in
police
matters,
in
cooperation
in
information
exchange.
B
C
Very
much
there's
a
number
of
issues
I've
already
been
touched
on,
but
I
want
to
talk
about.
Scotland's
link,
post
air,
but
exit
62
percent
of
people
in
Scotland
voted
to
the
mean
rather
than
the
European
Union,
and
that
position
appears
to
have
strength
and
so
I'm
just
wondering
how
we
can
build
relationships
with
Romania
directly
and
indeed
under
Romanian
presidency,
with
the
European
Union
post
breaks.
He
talked
about
a
thousand
Romanian
students
here
in
Edinburgh.
He
talked
about,
which
I
think
is
heartening.
The
strengthening
of
Romania
is
on
consular
presence
here.
B
B
Near
and
there
were
two
or
three
or
minion
waiters
there,
and
what
we,
what
we
value
very
much
and
I
personally,
what
I
value
very
much
is
that
every
time
and
I'm
now,
the
sixth
or
five
fifth
time
here
when
I
come
to
Scotland
I
feel
that
Romanians
are
welcome.
I
feel
a
positive
sentiment.
That
is,
that
is
here,
no
hostility.
No
cases
of
discrimination,
which
is
which
is
very
fine,
so
I
believe
we
have
the
premises
to
build
our
our
relations
in
the
future,
trying
to
identify
those
fields
that
can
be
of
mutual
interest.
D
C
I'm
sure
we
about
an
increasing
positive
and
closer
relationship,
despite
the
break,
see
situation
I'm,
just
wanting
not
looking
at
them,
your
presidency
more
widely,
how
will
remain
impress
they
deal
with
the
Visegrad
group,
because,
obviously
you
can
have
hinted
at
that
without
mentioning
any
of
the
countries.
But
there
is
an
issue
and
you
did
see
you
also
wanted
to
strengthen
the
European
project.
So
how
would
you
kind
of
deal
with
that?
Because
that
has
becoming
more
over
actually
I
sure
think
within
the
European
Union.
H
B
B
C
Romania
itself,
lastly,
convene
affects
the
mean
itself
press
for
an
expansion
of
the
European
Union
to
go
higher
up
the
agenda,
given.
Obviously
your
links
with
Moldova,
which
was
part
of
Romania
before
1940
and
countries
in
the
Western
Balkans,
so
much
so
fairly,
small
and
one
would
have
thought-
would
have
been
relatively
easily
absorbed
into
the
European
Union
and
given
a
population
I
realize
if
a
major
economic
problems,
some
of
them
but
does
Romanian,
feel
that
that
should
be
progressed.
Much
more
am
assertively,
and
will
it
do
so
during
his
presidency?
Well.
B
B
B
B
H
Thank
you
can
be
an
effective
morning,
ambassador,
certainly
over
the
the
next
few
months.
That's
as
you
stated
yourself,
as
that
we
create
a
lot
of
change,
will
be
taking
place
in
terms
of
some
of
the
normal
activities
that
will
be
taking
place,
will
be
the
future
discussions
regarding
the
cap,
the
structural
funds
and
also
horizon
Europe.
Can
you
tell
the
committee
they
will
provide
the
committee
with
any
information
regarding
how
Romania,
as
I
shall
progressing
these
particular
issues?
Well,.
B
This
will
be
on
the
agenda
and
in
terms
of
structural
funds,
we
we
keep
also
speaking,
we
we
are
sticking
to
the
idea
that
we
have
to
maintain
a
comparative
level
and
for
development
and
for
what
I
told
you
to
reduce
disparities
between
countries
and
between
different
regions
in
in
countries.
There
will
be
a
probably
a
temptation,
also
regarding
the
impact
of
of
the
UK,
to
to
make
some
changes
in
regional
policy
development
policy.
C
B
B
H
B
A
I
You
can
feeling
good
morning,
ambassador
returning
to
break
sit
as
I
fear
that
we
must
somebody
have
to
do
it
and
going
back
to
the
withdrawal
agreement
itself.
Obviously,
there
has
been
much
speculation
in
the
media
in
the
UK
fi.
It's
the
fact
that
this
can
easily
be
opened
up
the
withdrawal
agreement,
not
the
political
declaration.
Are
they
right?
Can
the
withdrawal
agreement
be
open
and
withdrawal
agreement
itself?
You.
I
B
I
But
so
what
I'm
saying
that
I
suppose
is
the
prevailing
view
from
Brussels,
as
stated
by
Messrs
Barney
a
twist
and
Younker,
is
that
the
withdrawal
agreement
cannot
be
opened
up.
The
patrol
agreement
has
been
agreed.
It
was
agreed
by
the
UK
prime
minister.
It
is
an
agreement.
There
is
no
way
to
open
that
up
is
not
the
view
of
each
of
the
27
member
states.
B
B
I
Okay,
my
last
question
so
I'm
struggling
a
bit
with
my
voice.
My
last
question
concerns
the
possibility,
at
least
of
the
UK
seeking
an
extension
to
article
50.
Is
that
something
that
has
been
discussed
informally
at
Quora
pair
and
is
that
likely
to
be
agreed
if
the
UK
government
were
to
come
within
the
next
36
days
or
whatever?
It
is
to
ask
for
that?
Well,.
B
G
B
B
G
B
H
B
B
D
B
B
G
A
A
A
A
A
The
next
item
of
business
on
the
agenda
today
is
consideration
of
a
statutory
instrument,
consent
notification,
the
creative
Europe
program
and
Europe
for
citizens
program,
revocation
EU
exit
regulations.
2019
will
consent
to
the
UK
government,
legislating
using
the
powers
under
the
european
withdraw
light
2018
when
we
discuss
this
consent
notification.
At
our
meeting
on
the
31st
of
January,
the
committee
agreed
to
seek
more
information
from
the
Scottish
Government.
That
information
has
been
forthcoming
and
the
Scottish
Government
has
advised.
A
That
is
no
longer
can
say
it
contains
to
consent
to
the
notification,
as
it
would
require
direct
payments
to
be
made
in
the
name
of
the
UK
DCMS
Secretary
of
State's
to
the
Scottish
cultural
sector
organisations.
The
Scottish
Government
does
not
consider
that
an
SSI
is
required
in
this
situation,
as
legislation
exists
which
allows
Scottish
Ministers
to
make
payments
to
deliver
the
EU
funding
guarantee
to
the
relevant
Scottish
organisations
should
it
be
necessary.
A
The
Scottish
government
therefore
does
not
consider
that
an
SSI
is
required
to
remedy
any
deficiency
in
this
area,
and
we
are
therefore
being
asked
to
note
the
Scottish
Government's
new
position.
There's
no
more
role
for
the
committee.
In
this,
our
members
content
to
do
that
content
and
we
now
move
into
play
that
session.