Former First Minister bilateral meeting with Maroš Šefčovič European Commission Vice President: FOI release

Information requested

Please provide me with meeting minutes and any internal correspondence relating to this meeting had by the FM: 03/12/2024 Meeting Bilateral with Maroš Šefčovič European Commission Vice President.

Response

Please see the information you have requested attached in Annexes A, B and C.

Commissioner's website at:
What can I do if I'm unhappy? | Scottish Information Commissioner (itspublicknowledge.info)
Annex A

MEETING WITH Maroš Šefčovič Executive Vice-President of the European Commission
Minister	First Minister
Type of engagement	Bilateral Meeting
Date	3 December 2023 14:35-14:55
Who	Maroš Šefčovič Executive Vice-President (VP) of the European Commission
Key Points	The First Minister and VP opened the discussion with the issue of Gaza both condemning the atrocities. [redacted - section 32(1)(a)(ii)] Discussed language on fossil fuels and loss and damage funding commitments.

• Attending Official [redacted -Section 38(1)(b)(i)]

Annex B
From: Redacted
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2023 12:48 PM
To: Redacted
Cc: Redacted
Subject: MeetingCEOSefcovicCab
Dear Redacted,
My colleague Redacted has said you’ve urgently asked for an update on the wellbeing economy and Brussels ahead of a possible FM-EVP Sefcovic brush by. I’m copying the Wellbeing economy team leads in Scotland in case anything is needed on the
Wellbeing economy in Scotland and for their information. The key points for to drop into an FM briefing on the latest from Brussels on the Wellbeing economy is as follows:

• Gary Gillespie the Chief Economist met Redacted from the Cabinet of Maros Sefcovic on 21/11/2023 – this was a direct follow up to the FM’s meeting with EVP Sefcovic in June this year.
• The follow up was positive with discussion centring on understanding the EU and VP Sefcovic’s interest.
• Gary and Redacted to exchange information and keep in touch, hopefully with SG colleagues engaging more closely with the EU Joint Research Centre on this topic.
• Minister Martin took part in a policy roundtable in Brussels held jointly with the European Policy Centre (EPC) think tank on the Wellbeing Economy and how the EU can move more towards a wellbeing approach on 21/11/2023 with attendees from the Commission and the Parliament research services.
• Gary Gillespie the Chief Economist spoke for the Scottish Government at the Launch of the EPC’s Policy Labs on the wellbeing economy in the EU on 22/11/2023.

I attach a full note of the meeting between Redacted and Gary in case useful.
Kind regards,
Redacted
Annex C
Hi Redacted,

As mentioned, Redacted will try to coordinate something for the EVP brush by/meeting. Aware you have asked for this by COP today but we will be working tomorrow, does that mean we can extend the deadline to tomorrow? Do we know when the meeting is taking place? Redacted, as discussed, Redacted has said to me that the FM asked for further briefing on the Wellbeing Economy for his meeting with EVP Sefcovic this weekend. Briefing attached.
Thanks all,
Redacted

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