International economic relations
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on international economic relations. 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
| 02.08.2013 | GDP - International comparisons: Economic Indicators page |
| Comparisons of latest GDP data and forecasts for the UK and the world's largest economies. |
| 19.07.2013 | The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) |
| A short briefing on the background, process and features of the proposed EU-US free trade agreement, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership |
| 09.07.2013 | Unemployment - International Comparisons: Economic Indicators page |
| This page provides harmonised unemployment rates for major international economies. |
| 10.06.2013 | The 0.7% aid target |
| This note examines the definition of the 0.7% aid target, its origins and the UK's and other countries' performance against it. It also summarises recent attempts to enshrine the target in legislation and some criticism of its relevance. |
| 01.03.2013 | North Korea: domestic developments during Kim Jong-Un's first year in power |
| This note briefly surveys domestic developments in North Korea since the death of Kim Jong-Il in December 2011 and the succession of his son, Kim Jong-Un. The nuclear issue is referred to only in passing. Insofar as we can know, Kim Jong-Un appears to have consolidated power smoothly and quickly. There are signs that the new leadership wants to shift from a 'Military First' to a 'People First' policy, which will involve economic reform measures. However, there are no real signs yet of an improvement on human rights. |
Research Papers
| 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. |
| 25.02.2010 | Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill [Bill 17 of 2009-10] |
| The Bill seeks to limit the amount that can be recovered by any commercial creditor of those countries designated as having unsustainable external debts. The legislation would restrict the activities of so-called 'vulture funds', which buy developing countries' sovereign debt at discounted prices, then seek to recover its value in full through the courts. It would limit successful claims to an internationally agreed level and apply equally to all commercial creditors. It would cover the 40 countries in the IMF/World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Debts incurred after the Bill's entry into force would be excluded. |
| 05.06.2009 | War and peace in Sri Lanka |
| This paper provides a brief historical and social survey of Sri Lanka, including the origins of the conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. It then gives an account of developments since 2002, when a ceasefire was agreed and hopes were raised - rapidly to be dashed - that there might be a peaceful negotiated resolution of the conflict. The paper also surveys the stance taken by the international community on the conflict, the military capabilities of the Sri Lankan military, and aid and development issues. It concludes by considering Sri Lanka's future prospects, including assessing how real the Government's military victory is and whether genuine political and constitutional reforms are likely to be introduced. |
| 05.12.2008 | Turkey Today |
| Turkey Today: An overview of the main issues affecting Turkey today |
| 02.05.2007 | An economic introduction to India |
| An economic introduction to India. House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/40. |
Early Day Motions
| 22.10.2008 | TRANSPARENCY OF CARBON MARKETS |
| That this House believes that carbon trading can play an important role in combating climate change, but that confidence in such an approach can only be maintained if such markets are ... |
| 13.10.2008 | ASSISTANCE TO ICELAND |
| That this House is concerned that instead of helping the UK's old ally and friend Iceland in its financial crisis, and taking concerted measures with the Icelandic government to help ... |
| 15.07.2008 | LABOUR FRIENDS OF IRAQ DELEGATION VISIT TO BAGHDAD |
| That this House notes the recent Labour Friends of Iraq delegation to Baghdad as guests of the Islamic Dawa Party to meet the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, his advisers, the ... |
| 23.04.2008 | EUROPEAN UNION SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA |
| That this House welcomes the recognition by Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, who recently visited Cuba, that European Union sanctions against ... |
Lords Library Notes
| 07.06.2013 | Debate on 13 June: Government's Priorities at the G8 |
| This Library Note provides background information about the Prime Minister's stated priorities for the G8 meeting to be held in Northern Ireland on 17-18 June: advancing trade, improving tax compliance and promoting greater transparency. |
| 11.03.2013 | Debate on 14 March: Afghanistan's Regional Relationships |
| Afghanistan lies at the heart of Central Asia. Since the invasion by Western-led forces in 2001, its relationships with its regional neighbours have been mixed: at times characterised by co-operation, at others by competing national interests. This Note explores those relationships in the context of Afghanistan's current security, political and economic situation, focusing particularly on key actors such as Pakistan and efforts to encourage dialogue and co-operation, and examines the potential impact of these regional dynamics on Afghanistan's future stability and prosperity. |
