The primary purpose of the European Scrutiny Committee in the Commons and the European Union Committee in the Lords is to scrutinise EU law in draft before it is agreed.
The scrutiny process is the means of exerting parliamentary influence over the Government's actions in the Council of Ministers. Until UK parliamentary scrutiny is complete, UK Ministers cannot unless there are exceptional circumstances adopt a formal position on European legislation in the Council.
How does the UK Parliament scrutinise EU legislation?
The Commons European Scrutiny Committee (ESC) and the Lords European Union Committee (EUC) examine all proposals for EU legislation, as well as discussion documents such as Commission Communications and Green and White Papers.
Both Committees scrutinise all areas of EU activity from the internal market and environmental issues to foreign policy and justice and home affairs matters.
The ESC in the Commons considers each EU document in the light of an Explanatory Memorandum supplied by the UK Government, and reports to the House of Commons whether a document raises matters of legal and/or political importance.
The ESC can recommend documents for debate, either in a European Document Committee or on the floor of the House, or hold documents under scrutiny pending receipt of further information.
The Lords EU Committee focuses on the most important EU documents and analyses the merits of these proposals in depth. The Committee acts as an investigative committee, carrying out inquiries and producing reports that make recommendations to the UK Government and the European institutions.
How does the NPO help with the UK scrutiny process?
The Committees seek to carry out their scrutiny work at the earliest possible stage in the EU decision-making process.
To assist in this, the NPO provides regular briefing for the ESC and EUC about topical EU issues. It seeks to obtain advance information for the Committees, and in particular on advance intelligence of Commission proposals.
Further Information:
The UK National Parliament Office, Brussels
What is the NPO and how to contact them.
The Work of the National Parliament Office
How the NPO provides information to the UK Parliament to inform the scrutiny process.