UK to unveil plans for ending EU police co-operation

EUObserver reported that United Kindom Home Affairs minister Theresa May would say to the UK Parliament on the 15 October 2012 that the say the goverment was 'minded to' opt-out of some 130 EU justice and home affairs programmes.

The list included the European arrest warrant and the European criminal records information system, as well as future schemes to create an EU-level public prosecutor and a European investigation order, a protocol on EU countries' exchange of evidence in criminal cases.

Under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, the UK had an option until 2014 to walk away from the laws but can subsequently ask member states to opt back in to some of them.

The FT reported that the move would be the first stage of what Prime Minister David Cameron hoped would be a new negotiated 'settlement' between Britain and the rest of the EU.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: PM pressed to pick new Brussels battles http://www.europeansources.info/record/pm-pressed-to-pick-new-brussels-battles/

United Kingdom: Home Office: The 2014 decision http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/corporate-publications/2014-decision/

EurActiv, 19.10.12: Cameron: 'The plates of Europe are moving' http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/cameron-plates-europe-moving-news-515535

EUObserver, 19.10.12: Britain's harmful step http://euobserver.com/opinion/117934

Daily Telegraph, 22.10.12: Tories are playing with the Brussels bomb (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/2903511-tories-are-playing-brussels-bomb

EurActiv, 25.10.12: Britain's opt-out on EU police and crime laws raises eyebrows http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/uk-op-raises-eyebrows-home-affai-news-515655

Centre for European Reform: Cameron’s choice: Play to the gallery or keep Britain safe by Hugo Brady (September 2012) http://www.cer.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/attachments/pdf/2012/bulletin86_hb_article3-6180.pdf

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