4. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ABOUT DISQUALIFICATIONS
(23876)
12536/02
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Draft Council Decision on increasing cooperation between EU Member States with regard to disqualifications.
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| Legal base: | Articles 31(a) and 34 (2)(c) EU; unanimity; consultation
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| Department: | Home Office
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| Basis of consideration: | Minister's letter of 11 December 2002
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| Previous Committee Report: | HC 63-i (2002-03), paragraph 6 (20 November 2002)
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| To be discussed in Council: | No date set
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| Committee's assessment: | Legally and politically important
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| Committee's decision: | Not cleared
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Background
4.1 On 20 November we considered a revised version of
this measure, which seeks to establish a network of national contact
points in Member States to exchange information on disqualifications
restricting a person's access to employment. We noted the Government's
remaining concerns about the measure, but held the document under
scrutiny pending the Minster's reply to our question as to the
extent of the Government's opposition to the proposal.
The Minister's reply
4.2 In his letter of 11 December 2002 the Parliamentary
Under-Secretary at the Home Office (Mr Bob Ainsworth) replies
as follows:
"Following further discussions on the draft Decision, I can
now inform the Committee that the Presidency has decided not to
take forward the instrument in its present form. It has instead
agreed to review its proposed approach in the light of the information
on disqualifications which it has gathered from Member States
and will [in] due course produce a revised instrument for consideration.
"We welcome the Presidency's decision and will give careful
consideration to any revised instrument for improving co-operation
on disqualifications. We will also continue to support the approach
agreed in the programme of Measures on Mutual Recognition. In
this context, we understand that disqualifications are likely
to form part of the Commission's programme of work next year,
with the aim of submitting a non-legislative communication on
disqualifications generally towards the end of next year."
Conclusion
4.3 We thank the Minister for his reply and agree
with the Government's approach. We hold the document under scrutiny
pending deposit of any revised measure together with an Explanatory
Memorandum.
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