In the wake of the Scottish and Welsh referendums, President-in-Office of the Council, Georges Wohlfart told MEPs Richard Howitt (UK, PES) and Hugh McMahon (Scotland, PES) that he could see no problem in a minister of the future Scottish Parliament attending meetings of the EU Fisheries Council or any other Council meeting where Scottish affairs would be on the agenda. Ministers from regional parliaments in Belgium and Germany already attend Council meetings where issues on the agenda affect their regions.
Following his statement, Allan Macartney (Scotland, ERA) commented: "This helpful statement gives the green light for the Scottish Minister of Fisheries to take over the lead role in the British delegation to the Fisheries Council, given that the industry is considerably bigger in Scotland than south of the border. But we do not need to wait until the year 2000 for the change: it could start tomorrow."
But an alternative view came from Giles Chichester (UK, EPP) commenting on the Welsh referendum. "Labour's decision to allow Welsh ministers to attend European Council meetings is a further indication of the Prime Minister's desire to hand over power to Brussels Eurocrats. What Britain needs is a strong, united British team fighting for our national interests, not a Britain of the regions divided and ruled by Europe."