TIMETABLE AND SCRUTINY PROCESS
3. The consultation period following the publication
of the APS, which is in effect the 'white paper' for the Work
Programme, offers the more significant opportunity for influencing
the Commission's planning. However, the Commission has said that
it will listen to any comments on the Work Programme submitted
by national parliaments, and on this basis, the Select Committee
decided to undertake an inquiry into the 2007 Work Programme.[2]
A detailed examination of the Work Programme is also useful in
helping the Committee and its Sub-Committees plan their work over
the year, and will lead into an enhanced system of scrutiny for
the Annual Policy Strategy 2008.
4. The 2007 Legislative and Work Programme was
examined by the Select Committee and each of our seven subject-based
Sub-Committees. Each Sub-Committee discussed the Work Programme
from the particular perspective of its own policy expertise, and
contributed to a roundtable discussion hosted by the Select Committee.
In parallel, the Select Committee issued a call for written evidence,
and received 12 formal evidence submissions. This report is based
on the evidence received and the discussions of the Committee
and Sub-Committees.
5. It is important to bear in mind, when examining
the Work Programme, that it is not a comprehensive list of all
the legislative proposals and policies that will be brought forward
in 2007. Legislative proposals and policies and other measures
included in the Work Programme may not emerge as indicated by
the Commission, and others may be put forward. The Work Programme
also needs to be understood in the context of other documents
and strategies, including the priorities of the Presidencies of
the European Council, national priorities, and multi-annual plans
such as the Hague Programme and the Lisbon Agenda.
6. Furthermore, the nature of the Work Programme
means that the policies brought forward in 2007 will not exactly
reflect the balance between policy areas evident in the document.
Measures in areas such as foreign affairs and justice and home
affairs may be proposed as events unfold, and such areas are thus
under-represented in the Work Programme.
7. Most significantly, it is important to note
that the Work Programme is a statement of broad policy objectives,
rather than detailed and specific proposals; these proposals will
be dealt with individually as they are brought forward, through
the Committee's normal scrutiny process.
Recommendation
8. The Committee makes this report to the
House for information. A Government response will be sought in
the usual way. In particular we urge the Government to take account
of the views presented as evidence to the Committee and summarised
in this report.
1 The Work Programme and Annual Policy Strategy can
be found on the Commission's website, at http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/programmes/index_en.htm.
The Work Programme is Council Doc 14919/06 (or COM(2006)629),
which was sifted to the Select Committee, and is cleared from
scrutiny by the publication of this Report. The House of Commons
European Scrutiny Committee has reported on the Work Programme:
7th Report, Session 2005-06 (HC41-vii) Back
2
House of Lords European Union Committee: EU Legislation-Public
Awareness of the Scrutiny Role of the House of Lords. Report with
Evidence. 32nd Report of Session 2005-06, HL Paper 179, p.26.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200506/ldselect/ldeucom/179/179.pdf
Back
