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Proceeding contribution from Richard Ottaway (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 10 March 2011. It occurred during Backbench debate on Inter-Parliamentary Scrutiny (EU Foreign, Defence and Security Policy).


Inter-Parliamentary Scrutiny (EU Foreign, Defence and Security Policy)

The European Parliament is free to pass all the motions it likes. The truth of the matter is that the Lisbon treaty invites national Parliaments to exercise a scrutiny function over European foreign, defence and security policy. What we are doing is putting forward a proposal. If we cannot agree on it, we cannot influence the debate—going on in Belgium, not in Brussels—and we will not have a seat at the table. What I hope will happen today is that the UK Parliament will come up with a proposal to lead the charge in providing a counterweight to the European Parliament.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
524 c1147 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
European Union EU common foreign and security policy Parliamentary scrutiny Foreign Affairs Committee European Scrutiny Committee Western European Union Treaty of Lisbon
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk