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SCOTLAND'S MEPs
and
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT OFFICE IN SCOTLAND

- WHO THEY ARE -
- WHAT THEY DO -
- HOW TO GET IN TOUCH -
The Scottish Members of the European Parliament

 

There are seven Scottish MEPs and they are all elected for the single constituency of Scotland. Scottish residents can approach any or all of them about a matter of concern.

You may wish to contact an MEP whom you know, or one who belongs to a political party with which you sympathise, or one who works on the relevant European Parliament committee.

Details of the seven Scottish MEPs are given on this website -- or you can download this pdf

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The European Parliament Office in Scotland

 

The European Parliament has an Office in the capital of every Member State. The European Parliament Office in Scotland is an extension of Parliament's UK Office in London (and has a more limited scope). Similar offices exist in Barcelona, Marseilles, Milan and Munich. Generally, the role of such Offices is:

  • to inform the public about the European Parliament and European issues in general
  • to facilitate coverage of Parliament's activities in the media
  • to liaise with the national parliaments, local administration and organisations in all sectors
  • to facilitate citizens' contacts with MEPs
  • to help organise Parliament's activities in the Member State
  • to report to Parliament on events in the Member State
  • to keep Parliament's records for public consultation
  • to answer questions about Parliament and its work.

The EP Office in Scotland is open 09h00-17h30, Monday to Friday.

The Office, which is located close to the new Scottish Parliament building, is at:

The Tun, 4 Jackson's Entry, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8PJ.

Tel. 0131-557 7866, fax 557 4977, email epedinburgh@europarl.europa.eu

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Services to the Public

 

Public Records: The Office is linked to Parliament's databases which, in addition to listing all Parliamentary documents, provide details of forthcoming meetings (plenary sessions, committees, political groups, delegations) and other meetings at Parliament. This information is also available on the Internet at www.europarl.eu.int

Information Materials: Brochures, leaflets, maps and other explanatory material produced by the European Parliament may be obtained at or ordered through the UK Office and via the website. Small quantities of such material are often available to callers at the Edinburgh Office, for instance a leaflet on the Parliament's petitions system and information on the Ombudsman.

Information network: The Office is a member of SERN, the Scottish European Resource Network. SERN consists of specialist organisations providing information about Europe and EU issues. They include EDCs - European Documentation Centres - in universities, Eurodesk for the rest of the education sector, relays providing information for the business sector and specialist information for various groups. Much of our material for the public is available through SERN outlets. You can visit the SERN website at www.europe.org.uk/info/scotland

Public events: The Offices organises events for the public, often in collaboration with our colleagues in the European Commission Representation (www.cec.org.uk/scotland) and other Scottish bodies.

Contacting MEPs: Names, addresses and telephone numbers of individual MEPs are given on this website. In case of need, they can often be traced by approaching the EP Office in Scotland.

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Working with Scottish Institutions

 

Scottish Parliament: The Office assists office-holders and Members of the Scottish Parliament in promoting relations with the European Parliament. In particular, the Office assists the Scottish Parliament's European and External Relations Committee in its scrutiny of EU legislation and activity (www.scottish.parliament.uk)

Scottish government: The Office works with the Scottish Executive in matters relating to European affairs. (www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/International-Relations).

Likewise, we are in regular contact with Scottish local authorities (www.cosla.gov.uk)

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Services to Interest Groups

 

Enquiries: The Office assists business, professional, voluntary, educational and other organisations, as well as individual companies and citizens, enquiring about any aspect of Parliament and its work. Such enquiries typically relate to:

  • the stage reached by a particular piece of legislation going through the parliamentary process in either committee or plenary
  • advice on whom to contact about pending legislation
  • how to petition the European Parliament and
  • how to contact a Member of the European Parliament.

The Office organises a number of public meetings in Scotland for the media, special interest groups and the general public. It also sponsors public debates with the MEPs and it co-operates with schools, universities and colleges and other organisations wishing to organise meetings on European topics.

The Office issues press releases and organises press conferences and receptions and it may invite journalists to cover parliamentary sessions.

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Public relations

 

The Office responds where possible to any request to take part in public discussions or debates.

Visits: Each year every MEP may invite 90 people to Parliament - many participants in these groups are political supporters.

The Office can sometimes arrange briefings in Brussels for visiting delegations. The Office will also try as far as possible to facilitate access to Parliament for individuals who are visiting Brussels/Strasbourg on their own account; at least two weeks notice must be given.

School Visits - Euroscola: This programme enables class-sized groups of senior second-level (15/18 year old) students to participate with up to 400 students from other EU countries in a one-day simulation of the European Parliament's committee, political group and plenary session work at Strasbourg.

Each year several Scottish class-sized groups participate - usually on the basis of having won a competition or having shown outstanding interest in the EU. Modest subsidies are available to such groups who often seek additional private-sector sponsorship. Further information about EUROSCOLA is available on request from the Office.

Note: Groups of school-children under the age of fourteen may NOT visit Parliament as a general rule. Exceptions are made on rare occasions, but only if they have sought prior approval through their MEP.

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European Parliament Office in Scotland - The Tun - 4 Jackson's Entry - Holyrood Road - Edinburgh EH8 8PJ
UK Office of the European Parliament - 2 Queen Anne's Gate - London SW1H 9AA

Updated February 27th, 2007

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