This paragraph amends section 6 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993 to provide that a person may be proposed as a member for the UK of the Committee of the Regions if he or she is a member of the Scottish Parliament.
This section forms part of the set of sections and Schedules dealing with the relations between the Scottish Parliament and Executive and the European Union. Schedule 5 provides that relations with the European Communities (and their institutions) are to be reserved to the UK Parliament and Government. But the Scottish Parliament and Executive are responsible for observing and implementing obligations under Community law in relation to devolved matters.
Section 6 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993 provides that a person may be proposed as a member or alternate member for the UK of the Committee of the Regions constituted under Article 198a of the Treaty establishing the European Community only if, at the time of the proposal, he is an elected member of a local authority.
This paragraph provides that in section 6 a reference to a member of the Scottish Parliament is inserted before the reference to an elected member of a local authority. The purpose of the amendment is to provide that a person may also be proposed as a member or alternate member of the Committee of the Regions if he or she is a member of the Scottish Parliament.