Why it declined an invitation to join the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development.

The Scottish Executive maintains close links with the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development which comprises 24 regions from across the world. We receive their papers and one of my officials attended a conference which the network arranged in Cardiff last year while another was a speaker at a seminar on sustainable development indicators that the network organised in Bilbao last autumn.
The Scottish Executive has considered carefully whether it should become a member of the Network. On balance, we have concluded that we should concentrate our international work within Europe where other regions’ experience and social, economic and environmental circumstances are closer to our own.
We are active members of the Environment Conference of Regional Environment Ministers (ENCORE) network which is the main forum for co-operation between the Regional Environment Ministers of Europe. One of my officials represents the UK on the ENCORE Steering Group. The Scottish Executive’s agreements with Catalonia and Bavaria include co-operation on environmental and sustainable development.