Committee Work Round-Up May-June 2012

Following the start of the new parliamentary session, several of the sub-committees have launched new inquiries, including three short inquiries that expect to publish by the end of July: Sub-Committee A's inquiry into the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive; Sub-Committee C's inquiry into Operation Atalanta; and Sub-Committee D's inquiry into the EU's sugar regime. Other inquiries, expected to publish after the summer recess include Sub-Committee B's inquiry into women's representation on boards and Sub-Committee F's inquiry into the global approach to migration and mobility.

May saw the publication of the Committee's reports that finalised at the end of the 2010-2012 Session, namely the report on the EU's defence capabilities prepared by Sub-Committee C and the Select Committee's report on the multiannual financial framework for the EU, which was published on 3 May. This MFF report will be debated (along with the Committee's previous report on the subject) on 19 June, prior to the  General Affairs Council at the end of June. In addition, the Committee's report on the European Rail Market (Tunnel Vision? Completing the European Rail Market) will be debated on 14 June.

The Committees have been well-represented at interparliamentary discussions in Brussels. Lord Carter of Coles visited Brussels to take part in the Commission's Green Week and to chair a special session dedicated to the report, prepared by Sub-Committee D, on  EU water policy. Lord Cameron of  Dillington has attended an interparliamentary committee meeting on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which was a key theme of the Select Committee's MFF report. In addition, several members of the Select Committee participated in the tripartite meeting at Westminster with colleagues from the House of Commons and the European Parliament. Topics of discussion included the euro area crisis and regulation of the financial sector.