Lords EU Committee call for evidence on the role of National Parliaments in shaping EU decision-making

The 2009 Lisbon Treaty set out a new role for national parliaments to scrutinise EU legislative proposals against criteria of subsidiary and proportionality. The Committee's inquiry will explore how far these arrangements are working and where there is room for improvement. National parliaments also engage in the general development and scrutiny of EU legislation and policies, and hold their governments to account in various ways for their actions at EU level.

Questions the Committee are seeking response on include:

• What role should national parliaments play in a) shaping, and b) scrutinising, EU decision making?
• How is the formal role of national parliaments under the Treaties, including the yellow and orange card procedures, working in practice?
• What is your assessment of the level and quality of engagement between EU institutions, including the Commission and European Parliament, and national parliaments, and between national parliaments? How much capacity do national parliaments have to take on a bigger role in scrutinising EU legislation?
• In what other ways should the role of national parliaments in the European Union be changed or enhanced?

Commenting Lord Boswell, Chairman of the House of Lords EU Select Committee, said:

“Over the past few years there has been a great deal of interest in the role of national parliaments in the EU, not least in the context of proposals for closer economic and monetary union.

“National parliaments have an important role to play in scrutinising the work of EU institutions and shaping the legislative agenda.

“We would welcome written evidence from any interested parties by the 27 September.”

For further details on the inquiry, including the Committee's full Call for Evidence please see the Committee's webpage.