The Role of National Parliaments in the European Union

The UK House of Lords EU Committee published on the 24 March 2014 its report on the national parliaments' role within the functioning of the European Union.

The Committee argued that that EU treaty change was not necessary to enhance the role of national parliaments in the EU and that it was a matter for the will of parliamentarians.

The report highlighted five areas where national parliaments could and should be more effective in the shaping of EU policies and legislation: national scrutiny, dialogue between national parliaments and the EU institutions, the reasoned opinion procedure, inter-parliamentary co-operation, as well as economic and financial governance.

The UK Government responded in July 2014 (see related url hyperlink).

• Primary Source

United Kingdom: House of Lords: Select Committee on the European Union: 9th Report (2013-14)HL 151 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldselect/ldeucom/151/151.pdf

EUObserver, 24.03.14: British Lords want more power over EU laws http://euobserver.com/news/123597

ESO: Background information: What role for national parliaments in EU law making? http://www.europeansources.info/record/blog-what-role-for-national-parliaments-in-eu-law-making/

United Kingdom: House of Lords: Select Committee on the European Union: Government Response to the House of Lords European Union Committee Report HL 151 of Session 2013-14 The Role of National Parliaments in the European Union, Cm8913, July 2013 http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/eu-select/Role%20of%20national%20parliaments/140721_Government_response_to_EUC_national_parliaments_report.pdf

United Kingdom: House of Lords: Select Committee on the European Union: The Role of National Parliaments in the European Union - Commission Response http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/eu-select/Role%20of%20national%20parliaments/commission-response-EUC-national-parliament.pdf

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