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Scotland 'ignored' in euro talks Scotland 'ignored' in Euro talks
(about 4 hours later)
A leaked government report claims Scotland has been ignored by Whitehall officials in key European negotiations.A leaked government report claims Scotland has been ignored by Whitehall officials in key European negotiations.
Michael Aron, director of the executive's EU office who drew up the report, believes the consequences for Scotland could be "disastrous".Michael Aron, director of the executive's EU office who drew up the report, believes the consequences for Scotland could be "disastrous".
The Scottish National Party has called for action over claims that Scotland was being "kept out of the loop".The Scottish National Party has called for action over claims that Scotland was being "kept out of the loop".
However, First Minister Jack McConnell said the report was an early draft and does not reflect the true position.However, First Minister Jack McConnell said the report was an early draft and does not reflect the true position.
Whitehall has been defensive over its European policy, the paper claims, with UK ministers demonstrating a "misunderstanding and ignorance" of the devolution settlement.Whitehall has been defensive over its European policy, the paper claims, with UK ministers demonstrating a "misunderstanding and ignorance" of the devolution settlement.
It was not uncommon, it said, for Whitehall departments to exclude the executive when forming policy, or to dismiss its views when formulating a UK line.It was not uncommon, it said, for Whitehall departments to exclude the executive when forming policy, or to dismiss its views when formulating a UK line.
Whitehall departments are routinely ignoring the Scottish Executive and Scotland's interests across the board suffer as a consequence Nicola Sturgeon SNP deputy leaderWhitehall departments are routinely ignoring the Scottish Executive and Scotland's interests across the board suffer as a consequence Nicola Sturgeon SNP deputy leader
It also cites Council of Ministers meetings, where executive ministers have been forced to sit in a nearby listening room with officials, because not enough seats were available in the council room.It also cites Council of Ministers meetings, where executive ministers have been forced to sit in a nearby listening room with officials, because not enough seats were available in the council room.
The first minister and Scottish cabinet should move to lobby the European Commission directly instead of being "constrained" by having to go through Whitehall, Mr Aron said.The first minister and Scottish cabinet should move to lobby the European Commission directly instead of being "constrained" by having to go through Whitehall, Mr Aron said.
SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon called on Mr McConnell to make an urgent statement to the Scottish Parliament explaining how the "disgraceful situation" had been allowed to develop.SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon called on Mr McConnell to make an urgent statement to the Scottish Parliament explaining how the "disgraceful situation" had been allowed to develop.
'Rolled over''Rolled over'
"Whitehall departments are routinely ignoring the Scottish Executive, and Scotland's interests across the board suffer as a consequence," she said."Whitehall departments are routinely ignoring the Scottish Executive, and Scotland's interests across the board suffer as a consequence," she said.
"It is appalling and insulting that Scottish ministers have even sat in the 'listening room' during Council of Ministers meetings, because there is no place for them in the room where the decisions are taken.""It is appalling and insulting that Scottish ministers have even sat in the 'listening room' during Council of Ministers meetings, because there is no place for them in the room where the decisions are taken."
Ms Sturgeon claimed the fact that this situation had been accepted by ministers showed they had "simply rolled over for Whitehall".Ms Sturgeon claimed the fact that this situation had been accepted by ministers showed they had "simply rolled over for Whitehall".
Jack McConnell said communication was getting betterJack McConnell said communication was getting better
Nationalist MEP Alyn Smith insisted that Mr McConnell should not duck his responsibilities on the issue.Nationalist MEP Alyn Smith insisted that Mr McConnell should not duck his responsibilities on the issue.
"After all, he is the former minister for Europe and now as first minister he is directly responsible for this situation," he said."After all, he is the former minister for Europe and now as first minister he is directly responsible for this situation," he said.
Mr McConnell said he did not want to comment directly on the leaked report, which he had commissioned, but he insisted it was still at an early draft stage.Mr McConnell said he did not want to comment directly on the leaked report, which he had commissioned, but he insisted it was still at an early draft stage.
He said: "I think in Scotland we have the best of both worlds - the power that comes with being part of a large member state of the European Union through the UK, and we also through devolution have a chance to express our own voice and to communicate directly with the European Union.He said: "I think in Scotland we have the best of both worlds - the power that comes with being part of a large member state of the European Union through the UK, and we also through devolution have a chance to express our own voice and to communicate directly with the European Union.
"That is something they are getting better at, something we are getting better at - but it is something all of us can continue to improve.""That is something they are getting better at, something we are getting better at - but it is something all of us can continue to improve."
Scotland 'isolated'
The report, Mr McConnell said, had been commissioned in order to help the executive understand and work on its relationship with Whitehall and strengthen its voice in Brussels.The report, Mr McConnell said, had been commissioned in order to help the executive understand and work on its relationship with Whitehall and strengthen its voice in Brussels.
Scottish Conservative Europe spokesman Phil Gallie accused the executive of losing control of policy.
He said: "Inevitably, the level of contact and co-operation between Scottish Executive and UK Government ministers suffers to some degree, given the lack of personal familiarity.
"However, that is no excuse for what appears from this leaked report to be a level of isolation that borders on the irresponsible."