In its latest report, the European Scrutiny Committee
considers recent draft EU legislation and policy documents
deposited in Parliament by the Government.
Each document is accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum
from the relevant Minister. The Committee examines the legal and
political importance of the document and where appropriate asks
further questions of the Government about its implications. The
Committee also has the power to recommend documents for
debate.
In its latest report, published
today, the Committee highlights the importance of several
documents, and how it intends to follow up with Government. These
include:
DEFRA – COVID-19 response: Exceptional rural
development support
Important because:
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During the post-Brexit transition period, the UK remains
eligible for support under the EU’s Rural Development Fund. As
part of its COVID-19 response, the Commission has proposed
changes to the Fund including one-off lump sum payments to
farmers and agricultural SMEs
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Payments must be funded or reallocated from existing
Rural Development Fund allocations, and in her Explanatory
Memorandum, the Minister () notes that most of
the UK’s funds have already been allocated.
The Committee has written to the Minister requesting
further information about expressions of interest in utilising
the Rural Development Fund, and where the Government might
reallocate funds from.
FCO – COVID-19: EU support for non-EU
countries
Important because:
-
As well as initiatives aimed at Member States, the EU has
made various financial, material and technical support packages
available to non-Member countries, aimed at addressing the
economic and social consequences of the COVID-19
pandemic
-
This does have some financial implications for the UK,
which is required under the Withdrawal Agreement to pay into
the EU budget during the post-Brexit transition period.
The Committee notes that the Government has no objections
to the EU’s support efforts for non-Member countries and has
reported the documents to the House of Commons.
The Committee’s full report is
available online.
