In its final report, the cross-party Committee on the Future
Relationship with the European Union says that with the UK and
the European Union having signed the Trade and Cooperation
Agreement (TCA), Parliament needs to ensure effective future
scrutiny of the UK-EU relationship.
The report, agreed ahead of the Committee’s 16 January expiration
date, says that with the UK’s departure from the EU and the end
of the Transition Period, the time is right to change the way
Parliament scrutinises European affairs. It sets out ways in
which future scrutiny could be undertaken.
The report’s key findings include:
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Parliament must be kept informed about the work being
done in new bodies established under the TCA and the Withdrawal
Agreement
The TCA sets out a new framework of Councils and Committees,
which will play a critical role in implementing the future
relationship. The Committee’s report says that after each meeting
of the Partnership Council, and of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint
Committee, the Government should provide an update to the House
in the form of a Statement, outlining any decisions reached and
providing MPs with an opportunity to question Ministers.
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The Government should come forward with proposals for
future scrutiny as soon as possible
The report argues there are compelling political and policy
reasons for Parliament to continue to scrutinise the UK’s
relationship with the EU. It calls on the Government to bring
forward its views on how this scrutiny should be organised for
Parliament to consider. These proposals should be drawn up in
consultation with the Liaison, European Scrutiny and Procedure
select committees, as well as with the chairs of departmental
committees with an ongoing interest in European affairs.
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Liaison Committee should be able to access papers
relating to crucial UK-EU meetings
The report says that the Liaison Committee of select committee
chairs should be able to access relevant documents before and
after meetings of the Partnership Council and its Specialised
Committees, the Trade Partnership Committee and Trade Specialised
Committees, the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and its
Specialised Committees, and the Joint Consultative Working Group.
It should also be able to recommend the Government request topics
be included on the agenda of these meetings.
The report also proposes that the Liaison Committee recommends
areas of oversight of EU-UK relations to individual departmental
select committees and establishes a sub-committee to co-ordinate
this work.
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The new framework for interparliamentary relations
should be established without delay
The report emphasises the importance of close relations between
the UK and European Parliaments and calls for the establishment
of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly provided for the
TCA. The UK representation should be drawn from both Houses of
Parliament.
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UK administrations should co-operate in implementing
the new UK/EU relationship
The report highlights the extent to which the TCA, common
frameworks, the UK Internal Market Act and Northern Ireland
Protocol will require continued co-operation between the
administrations and legislatures in London, Belfast, Cardiff, and
Edinburgh. It also calls for the creation of a new
interparliamentary body to facilitate this work.
Commenting on the report, former Committee Chair MP said:
“Now that the Trade and Cooperation Agreement has entered
into force, it is in everyone’s interests to build a strong
relationship with our friends and neighbours in the EU.
“Strong and effective Parliamentary scrutiny of this new
relationship will be really important, so our final report
contains practical ideas for how this could be organised. I look
forward to seeing these new arrangements in place as soon as
possible.”
