International Advisory Panel DRAFT Minutes – June 2025

The Chair welcomed Panel members and attendees to the meeting, extending thanks to Luisa Marelli for joining.

There were apologies from Darragh Page and Alan Hunt.

There were no declaration of interest.

LM provided an overview of the European Commission Joint Research Centre’s report on progress delivering the European Green Deal, highlighting areas where progress has been made and where acceleration is needed to achieve targets.

The Panel discussed the report, particularly:

• buy-in from and capacity of Member States to deliver on targets
• consumption footprints and reducing environmental impact outwith the EU
• the EU’s competitiveness agenda
• shifting political priorities across the Commission and Member States, such as defence and security
• how the report can be useful to ESS’ work

The Panel thanked LM for joining and noted enthusiasm to follow-up on future work.

[At this point LM left the meeting.]

MR provided an update on key pieces of work ongoing at ESS, highlighting:

• major pieces of legislation, regarding emissions reductions targets and biodiversity targets
• work undertaken by ESS focusing specifically on international perspectives, such as soils, wastewater treatment and marine litter
• an overview of ongoing analytical work, such as river basin management planning, invasive non-native species, and seafloor integrity
• an overview of representations received from the public and active casework, including incineration capacity, vehicle idling, aquaculture and public registers
• corporate updates such as staffing and progress revising ESS’ Strategy for 2026-31

The Panel thanked MR for the updates and discussed:

• relevant pieces of EU legislation, such as the Industrial Emissions Directive
• how to build recognition of the external impacts of Scotland’s consumption footprint into ESS’ work

MR provided an update ESS’ participation in the first meeting of key stakeholders (including the European Commission, the Scottish and UK Governments, and ESS’ counterparts from across the UK) under Article 395 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and future plans in this regard.

The Panel discussion on developments in the EU and UK highlighted:

• issues around fisheries, noting ESS has a number of ongoing cases in this area
• light pollution and its increasing profile in EU law
• the Danish sand eel dispute and the distinction between the Scottish and English approach to implementation
• land use, rewilding and tensions with economic growth and viability
• issues around misinformation and the need to remain alert to this

The Panel also discussed its next steps, noting that MR would speak with members individually ahead of the next Panel meeting in autumn 2025, following the public consultation on ESS’ draft Strategy.

The Panel approved the minutes of the previous meeting.

There was no other business to consider.

Annalisa Savaresi
Chair, Environmental Standards Scotland International Advisory Panel
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