Former Permanent Representatives questioned on European decision making
22 April 2016
EU laws affect us all, but how transparently are they made? The European Scrutiny Committee is looking at decisions in the Council, where national Ministers from each EU country meet to agree EU laws.
- Watch Parliament TV: Transparency of EU Council decision making
- Inquiry: Transparency of EU Council decision making
- European Scrutiny Committee
Witnesses
Wednesday 27 April 2016, in the Wilson Room, Palace of Westminster
At 4.00pm
- Andrew Lebrecht, Former UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU (2008–2012)
- Anne Lambert, Former UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU (2003–2008)
Purpose of the session
The Committee will ask people with direct experience of Council negotiations how these play out in practice, how much ministerial input there is into the system, and whether there is sufficient accountability at national level in the process.
Mr Andy Lebrecht and Ms Anne Lambert will provide insights from their experience, as diplomats, inside EU negotiations within the Council and its preparatory bodies.
Background
Most EU laws, which are proposed by the European Commission, have to be agreed by both the European Parliament and the Council. The Council publishes its agendas, meets in public when it deliberates and votes on draft laws and publishes the outcome of votes on draft laws.
Nonetheless much negotiation and discussion of the detail is taken outside these public proceedings, by the Council's preparatory bodies in private meetings (with technical discussions starting in Working Groups and advancing to the most senior preparatory body—the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU, known as Coreper).
Further information
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