MPs debate UK's Justice and Home Affairs Opt-outs

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• Catch up on Parliamentary News: MPs debate UK's Justice and Home Affairs opt-out decision: 7 April 2014 

Further information

UK’s 2014 Justice and Home Affairs opt-out decision

The UK notified the Council on 24 July 2013 that it would make use of the block opt-out option from EU acts in the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters adopted before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

Over the past couple of months the UK Government has been negotiating opting back into 35 measures.

• GOV.UK: Decision pursuant to Article 10(5) of Protocal 36 to The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (external website)

Relevant documents

The following select committee reports and government responses were identified as relevant to the debate:

European Scrutiny Committee Report and Government Response

• UK’s block opt-out of pre-Lisbon criminal law and policing measures, Twenty-First Report, HC 683
• The 2014 block opt-out: engaging with Parliament, Thirty-Seventh Report, HC 978

Home Affairs Committee Report and Government Response

• Pre-Lisbon Treaty EU police and criminal justice measures: the UK’s opt-in decision, Ninth Report, HC 615
• Pre-Lisbon Treaty EU police and criminal justice measures: the UK's 2014 opt-in decision, Fourth Special Report, HC 954

Justice Committee Report and Government Response

• Ministry of Justice measures in the JHA block opt-out, Eighth Report, HC 605
• Ministry of Justice measures in the JHA block opt-out, Third Special Report, HC 972

Joint Report from Committees

• First Joint Report from the European Scrutiny, Home Affairs and Justice Committees, on the Government’s response to the Committees’ Reports on the 2014 block opt-out decision, HC 1177

Government Policy Paper

• GOV.UK: Decision pursuant to Article 10 of Protocol 36 to The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - Command Paper 8671 (external site)

Related Information

House of Commons Library analysis

The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs and their staff of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.

• Read Library briefing paper: The UK block opt-out in police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters: recent developments

General debates

A general debate is held under a motion that the House has considered the subject. A motion expressed in neutral terms like this cannot be amended. It would be very unusual for a vote to take place on such a motion.

• About Parliament: Main business (debates)

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