Lords committee to hear view from Germany on UK's proposals for EU reform

Earlier this week Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, sent a letter to members of the European Council following his meeting with David Cameron. The letter, outlining his proposal for a settlement on the UK Government's negotiations on EU reform, will form the basis for many of the areas of discussion on Tuesday.

The House of Lords EU Committee is holding an inquiry into the Prime Minister's long-term vision for the EU. It is examining whether the UK Government's vision for reform is shared by stakeholders both within the UK and in the EU as a whole. 

Giving evidence will be Detlef Seif MdB, Deputy CDU/CSU parliamentary group spokesperson on EU affairs and member of the Bundestag Committee on European affairs, and Axel Schäfer MdB, Deputy Chairman of the SPD parliamentary group (with responsibility for European affairs) and substitute member of the Bundestag Committee on European affairs.

Questions that the Committee is likely to put to them include:

• What is your response to the proposals set out in President Tusk's letter to the members of the European Council on 2 February?
• What can you tell us about the approach of the Bundestag European Affairs Committee (and the Bundestag more broadly) in relation to the UK Government's proposals for reform of the EU?
• Do you feel that the UK Government has presented a clear and coherent vision for EU reform?
• How would you summarise attitudes in Germany towards the UK's proposals for EU reform?
• Does President Tusk's proposal on enhancing the role of national parliaments go far enough?
• What are your responses to the proposals set out by Donald Tusk on the issue of immigration?

The evidence session on Tuesday 9 February will take place in Committee Room 4 of the House of Lords at 4pm.

The meeting will be webcast and will be open for the media and public to attend, and a full transcript will be available on the Committee's website a few days after the session.