Download or read book Thirtieth Report of Session 2005 06 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: European Scrutiny Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-06-02 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The European Scrutiny Committee assesses the legal and/or political importance of each EU document, decides which EU documents are debated, monitors the activities of UK Ministers in the Council, and keeps legal, procedural and institutional developments in the EU under review. In this publication the Committee examines 19 documents, five of which it has not cleared and which it believes will require further negotiation and discussion. Fourteen of which it has approved. The uncleared documents include: European small claims procedure; Maritime safety; the European Institute for Gender Equality. The Documents that have been cleared include: eGovernment in Europe; Competition policy: public transport; Guidance on posting of workers; the Western Balkans and the EU.
Download or read book An EU Competition Court written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-04-23 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Large cross-border mergers have to be cleared in advance by the EC Commission. If the Commission prohibits a merger, or a third party objects to the clearance, the decision can be challenged in the Court of First Instance (CFI). However the CFI procedure can take several months, thereby prolonging uncertainty and sometimes causing bids to be abandoned. This is unsatisfactory and the CBI has proposed a new Competition Court as the way forward. This report looks at this proposal and concludes that such a court would not be the best way forward. Instead there is scope for improving current procedures by firmer case management, reducing the work load of the CFI by transferring trade mark cases, and improving the Commission's handling of cases to reduce the number and scope of challenges.
Download or read book European supervision order written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-07-25 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is estimated that at any one time 4,500 EU nationals are held in custody in countries other than their normal place of residence. As they are less likely to be granted bail (because of a greater perceived of absconsions) the Commission has proposed a European supervision order (ESO), which would mean that authorities in a person's home State would also be responsible for returning them for trial. This report examines the proposal in detail and makes some recommendations for improvement. The Committee welcome the proposal and think it deserves prompt attention by Member States.
Download or read book European Arrest Warrant Recent Developments written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-04-04 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is now widely used to secure the arrest and surrender of suspected criminals across the Union. The EAW has a key role to play in the fight against terrorism and in bringing those accused of serious crime to justice. This report draws attention to two recent developments relating to the EAW. Firstly, the EC Commission's recent report on the implementation of the EAW criticised Member States for inadequate or faulty implementation. Secondly, certain Member States' constitutional courts have found incompatibility with safeguards provided for their nationals. As a result, some legal uncertainty now surrounds the EAW. Until this is resolved the EAW may not be fully effective between Member States. Further, the adoption of other measures based on mutual recognition, such as the European Evidence Warrant, may be delayed. The report also makes available the written and oral evidence on these matters given by Mr Andy Burnham MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home Office.
Download or read book Managing Nuclear Safety and Waste written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-07-06 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report considers a pair of draft Directives, known as the "nuclear package", which would harmonise the way EU Member States ensure the safety of nuclear installations and manage spent fuel and radioactive waste. The Committee do not think that these Directives should be adopted. Instead it thinks that the Council of Ministers should concentrate on achieving globally approved, transparent approaches to nuclear safety and require Member States to set policies for the long term management of high level radioactive waste. The Committee is concerned about the loss of confidence in national governments as a source of information on nuclear issues and wants the EU to take a lead in educating citizens.
Download or read book Human Rights Protection in Europe written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-04-04 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Commission has proposed the creation of an EU Fundamental Rights Agency. The Agency's principal task will be to provide assistance and expertise to EU institutions and Member States when implementing Community and third pillar legislation. While it has been broadly welcomed by Member States, national human rights institutes and non-governmental organisations, there are concerns that the Agency's activities may overlap with those of other bodies in the field and more particularly, with the work of the Council of Europe. This Report discusses the extent to which duplication might arise. Chapter 3 looks at the geographic scope and remit of the Agency and considers the extent to which these will result in overlap with the Council of Europe. Aside from human rights bodies in general, there is the potential for duplication between the Agency and the proposed European Institute for Gender Equality. Chapter 4 discusses whether there is a need for two separate bodies or whether the Fundamental Rights Agency should be responsible for all fundamental rights and discrimination matters, including gender issues. Finally the Committee considers whether the Agency will be sufficiently independent from the Commission and the Council and makes recommendations as to the composition of the Agency's management and executive board.
Download or read book The United Kingdom Presidency written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-07-25 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee's report examines the UK Government's key agricultural and environmental priorities during its Presidency of the EU, based on the evidence given by the Secretary of State, Rt Hon. Margaret Beckett MP. There are five major priorities identified, with the theme of better regulation running through the agenda: action on climate change; progress on chemicals legislation; World Trade Organization negotiations; sugar regime reforms; and the introduction of the new sustainable development strategy.
Download or read book European Union Fisheries Legislation written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-07-11 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report contains evidence from the Nature Conservation and Fisheries Minister, Ben Bradshaw following a number of scrutiny overrides resulting from the late deposit of items before Council meetings. The Committee want the Government to address shortcomings in the EU's fisheries policy decision-making process during the time of its presidency of the European Union.
Download or read book The Stationery Office Annual Catalogue written by Stationery Office (Great Britain) and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 612 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Draft Detention of Terrorist Suspects Temporary Extension Bills written by Great Britain: Parliament: Joint Committee on the Draft Detention of Terrorist Suspects (Temporary Extension) Bills and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2011-06-23 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Joint Committee scrutinised the Home Office's draft Detention of Terrorist Suspects (Temporary Extension) Bills, which could be enacted urgently if it ever became necessary to extend to 28 days the maximum period for which the police could apply to a High Court judge detain terrorist suspects before charging them. The Committee agrees with the Government's objective, but does not accept the Government's proposals for achieving the objective. When provisions of this kind needed to be introduced after individuals had been arrested; it would be almost impossible to give Parliament the information it would need to scrutinise the legislation adequately without putting at risk a suspect's right to have a fair trial. In addition there is a risk that, if the provision was required in a period of parliamentary recess or dissolution, legislation could not be introduced in time, or at all. The Committee recommends, instead, the introduction of legislation to empower the Secretary of State to make an executive order (with the agreement of the Attorney General and subject to rigorous safeguards), that would temporarily extend the maximum period available for pre-charge detention to 28 days. There would have to be an independent review of the case for making such an order. The Director of Public Prosecutions would continue to be responsible for applications to a High Court judge in individual cases. The Secretary of State would be accountable to Parliament for the decision once there was no longer any risk of prejudicing judicial proceedings.
Download or read book The future of the Common Agriculture Policy written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008-03-06 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy marked the culmination of a gradual reorientation of EU farm subsidies from product support to direct income support. A mid-term "Health Check" of this reform is now underway, exploring what further adjustments may be required for the period 2009 to 2013. The Commission's proposals for short-term adjustments to the CAP merit broad support. The Committee is not convinced of the long-term justification for maintaining direct subsidy payments in their present form, and advocates a phased reduction in direct payments over the course of the next financial period beginning in 2014. A significant proportion of the funds released should remain earmarked for the CAP, but be spent on the rural development element of the policy rather than on farm subsidies. The report also addresses the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the EU agriculture industry. The sector is a significant contributor to climate change, but also vulnerable to its effects. Climate change may present a business opportunity for the industry, which is uniquely placed to deliver environmental services. Soaring global demand for many agricultural commodities has allowed some sectors of the European farming industry to prosper, while others are grappling with rising input prices and stagnant or falling output prices. Were supply shortages to ensue in future, the Committee expects that food scarcity would be a function of income rather than of production capacity. Those most at risk are consumers on low incomes in the developing world. Further trade liberalisation in the agriculture sector is supported, but if direct payments are withdrawn and import tariffs reduced-as the UK Government advocates-then the production standards that EU producers of agricultural goods are obliged to meet should be re-examined.
Download or read book Congressional Record written by United States. Congress and published by . This book was released on 1966 with total page 1316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)
Download or read book Current Developments in European Foreign Policy written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-03-03 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee asked the Minister for Europe, Mr Douglas Alexander MP, to give evidence on the most recent developments in European foreign policy. In this report the Committee makes available the oral evidence received. Topics in the evidence are: key developments of the United Kingdom presidency; financing of the Common Foreign and Security Policy; scrutiny and presentation of CFSP; non-proliferation of WMD and small arms; ESDP missions in Africa; the future of the Western Balkans; the possibility of a visa-free regime with Ukraine; the Middle East peace process; the future of the Barcelona process; and assistance to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Download or read book Current Developments in European Defence Policy written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-03-03 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report examines developments in the European Defence Agency (EDA) since the Committee's 9th report of session 2004-05 (HL 76, ISBN 0104006358). The Committee is disappointed that the three-year financial framework for the EDA has not been agreed, as it is important for future planning. It believes all participating member states should fully participate in projects that have relevance to their defence needs and capabilities, and that the EDA should concentrate on a few achievable tasks, aiming to add value to that which could be achieved by the member states individually. All member states should subscribe to the Code of Conduct on Defence Procurement. The Committee is hopeful that the EDA can play a significant role in the improvement of European military capabilities. The report also presents evidence from the Minster for Defence Procurement on the most recent developments in European defence.
Download or read book EU Police and Criminal Justice Measures written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-04-23 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The report EU Police and Criminal Justice Measures: The UK's 2014 Op-out Option (HL 159) examines the consequences to the UK should the Government choose to opt-out of approximately 130 EU police and criminal justice measures, that were adopted before the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009. The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is the single most important pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measure and, if the Government decides to exercise the opt-out, the Committee recommends that it should opt back in to the EAW immediately, to avoid any gap in its application. The Committee also expresses particular concern about the potential impact that the opt-out, including the loss of the EAW, could have on efforts by the UK and Ireland to effectively tackle cross-border crime, and does not believe that possible alternatives to the EAW would be adequate. The Committee concludes that the Government has not made a convincing case to opt-out and that to do so would h
Download or read book Review of Scrutiny written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-01-30 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Committee's report examines how the UK Parliament can best hold the Government to account for the foreign policy of the European Union, known as the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). As the European Parliament has principally only an advisory role in scrutinising CFSP decisions, national parliaments therefore have a key role to play in ensuring that any foreign policy actions are taken in an open and transparent manner. The Committee welcomes the increased commitment to the scrutiny process shown by the FCO recently and hopes the same culture of scrutiny will be adopted by the MoD. The report makes recommendations including the need for improved procedures for the deposit of documents; early warning of important new initiatives and proposed actions; and the deposit of significant non-legislative documents for scrutiny.
Download or read book Conundrum written by Richard Bacon and published by Biteback Publishing. This book was released on 2013-06-18 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Government failure is affecting everyone. The single mum worried sick by a tax credit demand from HMRC to 'repay' thousands of pounds she never received; the family whose holiday was ruined because the Passport Office couldn't issue passports in time; the school that couldn't open at the start of term because CRB checks were being carried out by an organisation in meltdown; the farmers led to bankruptcy and even suicide by a Kafkaesque system for administering farm payments; and rail operators facing an uncertain future because the Department for Transport inadvertently landed the whole rail franchising system in chaos. Why is government getting it so wrong? Richard Bacon and Christopher Hope delve into the astonishing world of cock-ups and catastrophes and ponder why those at the top continue to fall short.
