Watson Outlines 3 Measures to Better Promote Scotland in Europe

12.00.00am GMT Fri 18th Nov 2005

Graham Watson MEP, Leader of the Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, will tonight address the AGM of the European Movement in Scotland.

Speaking on the subject "Whither Europe - How Far and How Fast?", Mr Watson will discuss how the challenges of globalisation, climate change and international terrorism are likely to impact on the European Union and restate the case for supranational government in a global world.

Praising measures which have already been taken to promote Scotland in Europe, Mr Watson will call for the following three measures to be given top priority over the coming decade:

1. Doubling the number of Scots who take a Modern Language at Higher level, as a means of enhancing Scotland's economic potential and promoting greater cross-cultural understanding.

2. Driving Europe up the policy agenda in Scotland by establishing new think-tanks and reinforcing existing links between the EU and Scotland's political and academic institutions.

3. Starting a dedicated EU Fast Stream in the Scottish Executive to prepare a new generation of Civil Servants to effectively scrutinise, analyse and implement EU legislation in Scotland.