THE First Minister will today criticise the EU for blocking the Scottish Parliament’s attempt to introduce minimum pricing.
In her first speech in Brussels since becoming First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon will set out the reforms the Scottish Government would like to see made in the EU, including allowing member states to make localised decision on health and social issues, such as minimum pricing of alcohol.
In a wide ranging speech, the First Minister is also expected to make a “positive case” for Britain to remain within the EU.
Speaking at a policy briefing held by the European Policy Centre, an independent think tank, the First Minister will say: “Some years ago, the Scottish Parliament voted to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol, to tackle alcohol harm in our society. Our ability to do that has been challenged, and is currently being considered by Scottish courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
“We know from their support for our case that many other member states support us. My view is that the Commission and EU policy should recognise that. They should give a higher priority to enabling member states to take the decisions they deem necessary to protect life and promote health.”
The First Minister continued: “We don’t believe that reforms require treaty change. They can be implemented within the existing Treaty framework.
“And we believe that reforms should address two priorities. The first is straightforward. The EU should focus on areas where joint working and co-operation will make a tangible difference to the lives of its citizens”
Sturgeon will also call on the EU to look at regulatory reform, to cut unnecessary bureaucracy.
Better regulation, the First Minister said, would be of benefit economically and politically: “Regulations should be based on the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity. Better regulation will contribute to economic growth. And by doing so, it will help to restore public trust in the decisions made by European institutions.”
Although the Scotch Whisky Association disagreed with the First Minister on the effectiveness of minimum pricing, the group, who represent 95 per cent of all Scotch whisky producers, did throw their weight behind the Scottish Government’s campaign to stay in the EU.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “Our different view on the likely effectiveness and EU legality of minimum pricing – a view shared by a range of EU Member States – is now with the European Court of Justice to decide, having been referred by the Scottish courts.
“Where we do agree with the Scottish Government is the importance of the UK remaining part of the European Union, which as a whole is Scotch whisky’s largest export market. The EU’s single market and its single trade policy are central to Scotch whisky’s success and contribution to the Scottish economy. The single market lets us trade across the EU simply and easily. The EU’s weight and expertise in international trade helps give us fair access to overseas markets. In all these areas continued influence in Brussels can shape the rules in a way that supports us.”
Scottish Tory MEP, Dr Ian Duncan said that the speech proved that there was common ground between the SNP and Conservatives: “I am pleased that the First Minister agrees that Europe needs to be reformed. Indeed the areas she has highlighted are remarkably similar to what the prime minister has been calling for.”
During a heated debate on Britain in the world in the Commons, Alex Salmond, MP for Gordon, said that any campaign would need need to be “root-and-branch”.
The former First Minister said: “If people are fighting a yes campaign, it has to be a root-and-branch yes campaign; it cannot be a campaign based not on what Europe should be doing, but on stopping Europe doing other things.
“It has to be a genuine, positive yes campaign; otherwise the message is hopeless and conflicting.
“The SNP Members and party want to see positive things from Europe.... It is on that positive Scottish campaign – the Scotland in Europe campaign – that we on these benches and in this party will found our arguments, which will be vastly and overwhelmingly supported in the referendum by the people of Scotland.”
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