The 2009 Lisbon Treaty set out a new role for national parliaments to scrutinise EU legislative proposals against criteria of subsidiarity and proportionality. The Committee's inquiry will explore how far these arrangements are working and where there is room for improvement. National parliaments also engage in the general development and scrutiny of EU legislation and policies, and hold their governments to account in various ways for their actions at EU level.
Questions the Committee are seeking response on include:
- What role national parliaments play in a) shaping, and b) scrutinising, EU decision making?
- How is the formal role of national parliaments under the Treaties, including the yellow and orange card procedures, working in practice?
- What is the your assessment of the level and quality of engagement between EU insititutions, including the Commission and European Parliament, and national parliaments, and between national parliaments? How much capacity do national parliaments have to take on a bigger role in scrutinising EU legislation?
- In what other ways should the role of national parliaments in the European Union be changed or enhanced?
Written evidence is sought by 27 September 2013. Public hearings will be held in the Autumn. The Committee aims to report, with recommendations, in 2014. The report will receive a response from the Government, and may be debated in the House.