Eastern Europe

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on Eastern Europe. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
14.05.2012The Croatia Accession Bill: an introduction
Croatia is expected to join the EU in July 2013. A Croatia Accession Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech, would allow the UK to ratify Croatia's accession treaty. But issues around the judiciary, corruption and shipyards are not yet fully resolved.
11.05.2012Azerbaijan and the Eurovision
After winning the 2011 competition in Düsseldorf, Azerbaijan will be hosting the Eurovision Song Contest from 22 to 26 May 2012 in the capital, Baku, despite calls for a boycott.
10.05.2012Armenia 2012
Armenia has recently held a parliamentary election that appeared to show that the country's political culture is making some progress. There remain two big problems in Armenia's relations with other countries: its occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, which observers fear may spark another war, and the argument over whether the 1915 massacres amounted to genocide.
10.11.2011Ukraine, the EU, Russia and Tymoshenko
The boundaries of western and Russian influence in Eastern Europe are in play in Ukraine.
02.06.2011In brief: the latest crises in Bosnia
The fragile unity of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina is looking ever more precarious.

Research Papers

DateDescription
01.11.2012European Union (Croatian Accession and Irish Protocol) Bill [Bill 76 of 2012-13]
Croatia is expected to join the EU in July 2013. This Bill would allow the UK to ratify Croatia's accession treaty and would also cover the Protocol to the Lisbon Treaty put forward by the Irish Government.
05.12.2008Turkey Today
Turkey Today: An overview of the main issues affecting Turkey today
14.03.2007EU Enlargement: the Western Balkans
EU Enlargement: the Western Balkans. House of Commons Research Paper 07/27.
23.03.2000Russia: the presidential election and future prospects
Russia: the presidential election and future prospects. House of Commons Library Research Paper 00/33.
07.02.2000The Conflict in Chechnya
The conflict in Chechnya. House of Commons Library Research Paper 00/14.

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
08.09.2011LITHUANIA AND HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
That this House condemns attempts by the Lithuanian government to investigate 86 year old Kovno Ghetto Holocaust survivor Joseph Melamed for slander; welcomes attempts by Mr Melamed ...
11.07.2011POLISH PRESIDENCY OF THE EU
That this House welcomes the new Polish Presidency of theEU which came into effect on 1 July 2011; hopes that the Polish Presidency will continue the excellent work of the previous ...
16.12.2010EU PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING WITH EASTERN EUROPE
That this House commends Aberystwyth University's Department of International Politics for its project on Europeanising or Securitising the Outsiders? Assessing the EU's partnership-building ...
17.11.2010ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES DURING THE 1992-1995 WAR IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
That this House expresses concern about the enforced disappearances ofbetween 10,000 and 12,000 people during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995; condemns the continuing ...
16.11.2010SLOVAK LANGUAGE ACT
That this House notes the findings of the European Commission for Democracy through Law, also known as the Venice Commission, regarding the Slovak Republic 2009 State Language Act, ...

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library