House of Commons - The UK's 2014 block opt-out decision: summary and update Report

European Scrutiny Committee - Seventeenth Report
The UK's 2014 block opt-out decision: summary and update Report

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 29 October 2014.

Contents

Terms of Reference

The UK's 2014 block opt-out decision

Introduction

What is the block opt-out?

Which measures are subject to the block opt-out?

Opting back into individual measures

Changes to the list of measures the UK will seek to rejoin

Non-Schengen measures

Schengen measures

How significant are the changes to the measures the Government proposes to rejoin?

Impact Assessments

Would opting back into certain measures make a significant practical difference for the UK?

Can the benefits of UK participation be readily and reliably quantified?

Has equal weight been given to the benefits and drawbacks of UK participation?

Would UK participation ensure reciprocal benefits and burdens for the UK and other Member States?

Is there sufficient practical experience to demonstrate that participation in a measure will be beneficial for the UK?

Have alternative forms of cooperation been assessed?

How valid is the Government's assumption that the UK's contribution to the EU budget could not be reduced if the UK were to opt out of certain measures?

Are the benefits to the UK dependent on opting into other measures?

Conclusion

Annex 1 — A timeline for the UK's 2014 block opt-out

Annex 2 — Overview of the 35 measures

Annex 3 — Relevant Select Committee Reports

The European Scrutiny Committee

The Home Affairs Committee

The Justice Committee

Joint Report of the European Scrutiny, Home Affairs and Justice Committees

The European Union Committee in the House of Lords

Formal Minutes