Answer received from German Consulate re Potterings remarks

I put in a complaint to the German Consulate in Scotland about the comments of the EU President (and German Euro MP) Hans Pöttering who said he felt that Scotland should not consider independence and would be better of remaining in the UK, an extraordinary comment from a supposedly neutral official who is supposed to represent the whole EU. I was interested to find out exactly what the German Government thought of Mr Pottering's ill judged comments.

This was the consulate's reply:

Dear Mr Middleton,

Thank you for your e-mail of 18 November 2007 regarding a recent interview by the President of the European Parliament, Mr Hans Pöttering, MEP on regional policies in Europe. As you are undoubtedly aware, Mr Pöttering acted in his capacity as Member of the European Parliament, which is an independent institution of the European Union.

As a Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, I am not authorized to comment on any of Mr. Pöttering´s statements. All I could say on the matter is that – at the end of the day - it is up to the Scottish people to decide whether the actual devolution settlement should be altered or not.

May suggest, that you put further questions directly to the European Parliament, which might be done via the following link
https://www.secure.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/citizensMail/secured/cmRequest.do?cmLanguage=en

You may also write to the European Parliament Office in Scotland ( The Tun, 4 Jackson's Entry, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8PJ or email: ependiburgh@europarl.europa.eu ).

Yours sincerely,

Ingo Radcke

Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany 16 Eglinton Crescent Edinburgh EH12 5DG tel.: 0131-337 2323 fax: 0131-346 1578 www.edinburgh.diplo.de