Reasoned Opinion on European Parliament electoral reform recommended by Committee

27 Jan 2016 03:31 PM

The EU Justice Sub-Committee yesterday published a report recommending the House of Lords issues a Reasoned Opinion objecting, on subsidiarity grounds, to the European Parliament's proposed Council Decision reforming the EU's electoral law.

Background

In November 2015 the European Parliament agreed a proposed Decision reforming the EU's electoral law. The proposal, which has been sent to the Council for consideration, suggests a number of reforms and amendments to the existing EU legislation governing European elections.

The Sub-Committee's report raises subsidiarity concerns with two of the proposed reforms:

In addition to concerns about these proposed reforms, the European Parliament has also failed, as required by the Treaties, to justify its proposal on subsidiarity grounds. This omission constitutes a failure by the European Parliament to abide by a clear procedural requirement imposed by the Treaties.

Debate

The report, which recommends the House issues a subsidiarity Reasoned Opinion, will be debated in the House next week before the deadline expires.

Further information