May 18, 2020

Under s 13A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, if the ESC considers that EU legislation (or proposed EU legislation), in this case, the Council Decision establishing the EU’s negotiating position, “raises a matter of vital national interest”, it can require Ministers to arrange a debate and vote in the Commons within 14 sitting days of the publication of the ESC’s Report.

Having examined the EU’s negotiating position, as well as the Prime Minister’s February statement and the UK Government’s Command Paper setting out its objectives, the Committee consulted the Select Committees with an interest in the UK’s negotiations with the EU, and decided to put forward a motion for debate.

Its reasons for doing so are set out in the Report, along with an overview of the key issues highlighted by the Committees in their respective policy areas, and a recommended motion for debate and vote in the Commons. The motion “…urges the Government to conduct its negotiations with the European Union with the fullest possible transparency to facilitate essential parliamentary scrutiny; also urges the Government to make regular progress reports on the negotiations, including on stakeholder contributions to the consultation on The Future Relationship with the EU: the UK’s Approach to Negotiations, and to address the issues identified by the European Scrutiny Committee in its report…as matters of vital national interest.” To access the Report, click here.