How the ‘red card’ system could increase the power of national parliaments within the EU

One of the reforms included in the deal negotiated by United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron in February 2016 was the provision of a so called ‘red card’ system, under which national parliaments would be able to veto new EU legislation if 55% of parliaments registered opposition.

Ian Cooper writes that while some have argued the system would be rarely used, it should be seen as merely the latest step in a trend toward giving national parliaments a greater role in the politics of the EU.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: The EU Deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-deal/

European Commission: Secretariat General: National Parliament opinions and Commission replies: The Subsidiarity Control Mechanism http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/secretariat_general/relations/relations_other/npo/subsidiarity_en.htm

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