Evidence published and witnesses announced for European Union inquiry

The Committee has received written evidence from the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party committee on international affairs, Liberal Democrat MEPs, and Nigel Farage MEP on behalf of the UK Independence Party; Jean-Claude Piris, former legal adviser to the European Council and EU Council; think tanks and campaigning organisations including Open Europe and the European Movement; a number of leading academics and EU specialists; and several senior former UK diplomats and EU officials, as well as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The Committee will take oral evidence on 26 June from Sir Howard Davies, former Director of the London School of Economics, Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and Director-General of the CBI; and on 10 July from Charles Grant, Director of the Centre for European Reform, Mats Persson, Director of Open Europe, and Michiel van Hulten, the Dutch former MEP who has called for the replacement of the current EU with a two-layered structure. The Committee is likely to take further evidence after the summer recess.

Committee Chairman Richard Ottaway MP said:

"The fact that the Committee has received submissions from such a range of high-profile individuals and organisations testifies to the important role that it can play in examining the Government’s stance and the options for the UK at this crucial time for policy towards the EU. I am very pleased that the Committee will be taking evidence from leading advocates of some of the various different possible institutional frameworks for future UK-EU relations." 

Evidence sessions will be held as follows:

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Committee Room: 6

Witness:
At 11.30 am

• Sir Howard Davies, Professor of Practice, Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po); former Director, London School of Economics, Chairman, Financial Services Authority, Deputy Governor, Bank of England, and Director-General, CBI

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Witnesses (appearing separately):

• At 10.30am: Charles Grant, Director, Centre for European Reform  
• At approx. 11.10am: Mats Persson, Director, Open Europe
• At approx 11.50am: Michiel van Hulten, independent consultant, Brussels, and former MEP