Europe
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on 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
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.01.2013 | Norway's relationship with the EU |
| Norway is not part of the EU, and although it has adopted large amounts of EU legislation, it has little influence. | |
| 21.12.2012 | Icy fishing: UK and Iceland fish stock disputes |
| In spite of generally excellent bilateral relations, Iceland and the UK have had a number of fisheries disputes. There are now increasing tensions between the two parties after Iceland started catching large quantities of mackerel. Iceland has been condemned for 'plundering' the stock and for threatening its long-term future. The stock is worth some £200 million to the UK economy. The dispute has become known as the Mackerel War. | |
| 14.12.2012 | The EU Budget 2007 - 2013 |
| This note sets out the main principles that determine the shape and size of the European Union (EU) Budget for the period 2007-2013. It outlines the budget setting processes, contributions the UK makes, details of the UK abatement, and contributions by other Member States. | |
| 13.12.2012 | Iceland: an overview |
| 2012 has seen Iceland gear up for parliamentary elections in 2013, with plans for a new constitution as it emerges from its financial crisis and proceeds with its application to join the EU. | |
| 24.10.2012 | The eurozone crisis: action taken by the European Central Bank (ECB) |
| This note discusses some of the 'unconventional' measures taken by the ECB in response to the euro crisis and the political controversy they have generated. |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 31.01.2013 | European Union (Approvals) Bill |
| The European Union (Approvals) Bill (HC Bill 121) aims to approve two draft EU Council decisions and one draft decision of the European Council (the EU Heads of State and Government). | |
| 01.11.2012 | European 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. | |
| 27.03.2012 | The Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: political issues |
| This paper looks at the background to the TSCG, the reasons for the UK's non-participation and some of the issues it raises, such as its effectiveness, its relationship with the EU Treaties and EU law, the use of the EU institutions in a non-EU treaty, and whether it could give rise to a 'two-speed' Europe and further UK isolation in the EU. | |
| 13.10.2010 | How much legislation comes from Europe? |
| This paper explores various approaches to the question of how much national law is based on or influenced by EU law. | |
| 24.04.2009 | Russia and the West |
| A year on from Dmitry Medvedev's succession to the Kremlin, this paper analyses the evolution of Russian foreign policy under both Putin and Medvedev. It seeks to identify the main themes, interests, and objectives of Russian foreign policy, and to appraise the role of President Medvedev in the direction of Russian diplomacy and his relationship with Prime Minister Putin. In so doing, it examines, in detail, Russia's relationship with the United States, NATO, the EU, and the UK and analyses the role of energy in relations between Russia and the West. Finally, it looks ahead at the prospects for the relationship in light of President Obama's declared intention to press the 'reset' button in US-Russian relations. |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 21.01.2009 | Visit to Cyprus. |
| Foreign Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 01.03.2011 | IRISH GENERAL ELECTION RESULT |
| That this House notes the heavy defeat of the governing Fianna Fail party in the Irish General Election; further notes the loss of all the seats in the Dail of its junior partner, the ... | |
| 22.11.2010 | CYPRUS AND ITS RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE |
| That this House expresses its deep concern about the removal of cultural artefacts together with both the misuse of and damage to sacred religious sites situated within the currently ... | |
| 10.06.2010 | RECONSTRUCTION AND REGENERATION OF FAMAGUSTA-VAROSHA |
| That this House recalls the continuous interest of hon. Members on all sides of the House in successive Parliaments in the neglect and dereliction of Varosha, the sealed-off section ... | |
| 10.06.2010 | CYPRUS TALKS |
| That this House calls on the Government to express full and clear support for the continuation of discussions between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Demetris Christofias, ... | |
| 12.01.2010 | ILLEGAL SONGBIRD MARKET IN CYPRUS |
| That this House is concerned by the growing illegal practice of trapping and eating songbirds in Cyprus; notes that thousands of birds migrating in search of warmer climates face being ... |
Lords Library Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 25.01.2013 | Debate on 31 January: Prime Minister's Speech on Europe |
| This Library Note provides a short history of Prime Ministerial speeches on Europe since 1970; outlines Government policy towards Europe since 2010; summarises David Cameron's speech and selected reaction to it; and considers some aspects of the proposed renegotiation and referendum. It concludes with information about trends in public opinion towards Britain's membership of the EU. | |
| 09.02.2012 | The European Union Today |
| This Library Note provides a broad outline of the history and development of the European Union; and presents statistics comparing the EU to the US, Japan, China and Russia. |
