Date

Event

Country

Request / Action / State of Play / Comments

Duration (Days)

07.01.04

Dr Dennis MacShane MP, Minister for Europe

United Kingdom  

Dr Dennis MacShane, UK Minister for Europe appeared before the Europe and External Relations Committee (EERC) at an evening meeting to discuss this year's Inter Government Conference as a direct request from the EERC.

1

13 to 16.01.04

Access and Information & Technologies and Facilities Management Directorates

Basque and Catalonia

A parliamentary delegation of staff from the Access and Information & the Technologies and Facilities Management Directorates will visit the Basque and Catalonian Parliaments. The visit will look at a number of issues but in particular will investigate the Basque Parliament's 'Zabalik' email alerting system, and explore the potential for closer research co-operation and to investigate their broadcast facilities in the Catalonia Parliament.

14.01.04

Select Committee of the Dutch Parliament

Netherlands

The Select Committee of Dutch Parliament will visit the Scottish Parliament and meet with the Education Committee to discuss education issues. Direct request from the Select Committee of Dutch Parliament.

14.01.04

Azerbaijan Govt

Azerbaijan

Request for tour of Parliament complex and new building. With meeting with Alasdair Morgan MSP. Initial request came through Alasdair Morgan as Convener of the Enterprise and Culture Committee.

14.01.04

The Democratising Ukraine Programme

Ukraine

Request from the British Council to meet with MSPs from the Public Petitions and Communities Committee followed by tour.

19.01.04

Deputy Speaker plus cross-party delegation

Turkey

Delegation lead by the Deputy Speaker includes 8 others plus Ambassador, First Secretary and 2 from the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Will visit the Holyrood Information Centre. The Scottish Executive are hosting a dinner for the delegation which the Presiding Officer will attend.

22.01.04

Mr Bruno Chiaverini

Programme (pdf)
Report

France

Mr Bruno Chiaverini, Director of International Relations, Rhone-Alpes Regional Council is looking to gain a further knowledge into Scotland's experiences of devolution, as the Rhone-Alpes regions has just been given constitutional recognition under the French decentralisation process.

23.01.04

Paul-Eerik Rummo

Estonia

Meeting with Mr Paul-Eerik Rummo, Estonian Minister for Population and Ethnic Affairs and   the Estonian Honorary Consul and Estonian Consul, Estonian Embassy. Other participants were representatives of the Gaelic speaking community in Scotland. To discuss links between Estonia-Scotland, Gaelic Language, and languages in Estonia.

1

28.01.04

Prince Turki Al-Faisal

Saudi Arabia

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Ambassador, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia will visit the Scottish Parliament as part of wider programme in Scotland (visiting Edinburgh and St Andrew's universities). Will pay courtesy call on Presiding Officer and meet with other Members and officials.

29.01.04

Tanzania Delegation

Tanzania, United Republic of

Delegation from Tanzania will visit the Scottish Executive on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 January.

30.01.04

Scandinavian Seminar

Nordic

1-day Seminar requested by Professor David Artur to bring together parliamentary officials from across Scandinavia with the Scottish Parliament to compare and discuss Committee practice in Scotland and Scandinavia.

1