Influence at Home and Abroad

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The Parliament engages with events and debates taking place elsewhere, on the UK and European stages and beyond, in order to understand and influence those decisions that affect Scotland.

The Parliament also promotes Scotland, and the Scottish approach to democracy, in external relations initiatives around the world, working with the Scottish Executive and other partners.

In April a cross-party delegation of MSPs visited the United States and Canada to celebrate Tartan Week, a series of events and meetings held to promote Scotland and build links with legislatures, business and other organisations across the Atlantic. The highlight of this year's Tartan Week celebrations was VisitScotland's Scottish Village in Grand Central Station, New York, which showcased Scotland as a place to live, learn, work and holiday. Subsequently, members of the delegation met with political and business leaders in New York, Washington and Québec to discuss policy issues and areas where the economic and cultural links between the three countries could be enhanced.

Shortly before the Parliament moved to its new home, the Dalai Lama of Tibet led Time for Reflection in the Chamber. He also spoke with MSPs, a cross-section of religious leaders and school children from across Scotland.

Nearly 150 delegations from fellow parliaments across the world have visited since May 2004. Relationships with leading European regions have been consolidated, with MSPs meeting delegations to discuss and share aspects of policy and legislation. Several groups also visited from the 10 new member states of the European Union, with which Scotland is seeking to build stronger links.

In May, the Presiding Officer was a keynote speaker at the Summit of Regions and Cities held in Wroclaw, Poland. This conference, organised by the European Union's Committee of the Regions, addressed key themes emerging from the increased importance of regional parliaments in the European context. The Presiding Officer drew on the experience of Scottish devolution to develop the theme of how decentralisation can contribute to strengthening European citizenship, growth and cohesion.

MSPs played an increasing part in the British Irish Interparliamentary Body. This organisation brings together representatives of legislatures within the UK and Ireland to develop policy on mutually relevant issues, such as cross-border European Funding Programmes.

Links with Commonwealth partners continued to develop, with members and senior officials in the Canadian and Australian federal and regional parliaments visiting Holyrood to share experiences.

To coincide with the UK Government's 'Year of Africa', the Scotland branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association organised a cross-party delegation of six MSPs to Malawi and South Africa. The delegation met with Scottish NGOs that are working towards achieving some of the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals, in particular the reduction of poverty, the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, and the promotion of free quality education for all. The delegation was struck by the drive of people in these countries who are working to overcome tremendous problems. In its report back to the Parliament and the Executive, the delegation made a series of specific recommendations whereby Scotland can play a role in supporting Malawi's development.

The Parliament hosted a Conference for Africa in May 2005 to debate the findings of the Prime Minister's Commission for Africa. The conference brought together a range of speakers from African nations and NGOs, and was addressed by the Presiding Officer; the First Minister; Sir Bob Geldof of Commission for Africa; Salil Shetty, Director of the Millennium Development Goals Campaign, United Nations Development Programme; and Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General and CEO, CIVICUS. The event was one of nine taking place in the Scottish Parliament during 2005 on the role Scotland can play in Africa.

Our website contains information about the work of the Parliament with the wider world, and about the visits and organisations through which we maintain and develop links.

Engaging with the Public