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Bill · started in the Commons

European Union Act 2011

To make provision about treaties relating to the European Union and decisions made under them, including provision implementing the Protocol signed at Brussels on 23 June 2010 amending the Protocol (No. 36) on transitional provisions annexed to the Treaty on European Union, to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community; and to make provision about the means by which directly applicable or directly effective European Union law has effect in the United Kingdom.

Now an Act of Parliament

The story so farThe European Union Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 11 November 2010 by Mr William Hague (Conservative). It completed its passage through Parliament and became law as the European Union Act 2011, receiving Royal Assent on 19 July 2011.

What the bill does

<p>The Bill aims to strengthen the UK procedures for agreeing to or ratifying certain EU decisions and Treaty changes. The Bill has been drafted in the context of new EU methods of approving Treaty changes and calls for more public and/or parliamentary involvement in such decisions.</p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>Provides for a referendum throughout the United Kingdom on any proposed EU treaty or Treaty change which would transfer powers from the UK to the EU</li><li>Ensures that an Act of Parliament would have to be passed before a &lsquo;ratchet clause&rsquo; or a passerelle (bridging clause) in the European Union Treaty could be used. In addition, if the passerelle involved a transfer of power or competence from the UK to the EU, this would also be subject to a referendum before the Government could agree to its use</li><li>Enables the UK to ratify a Protocol to allow additional European Parliament seats for the UK and 11 other Member States during the current European Parliament term, and to legislate for the extra UK seat</li><li>Provides for a clause that affirms that EU law takes effect in the UK only because Parliament wills that it should. This confirms the principle that Parliament is sovereign. </li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading Commons 11 Nov 2010
  2. 2nd reading Commons 7 Dec 2010
  3. Programme motion Commons 7 Dec 2010
  4. Money resolution Commons 7 Dec 2010
  5. Committee stage Commons 11 Jan 2011
  6. Programme motion Commons 24 Jan 2011
  7. Committee stage Commons 24 Jan to 1 Feb 2011
  8. Report stage Commons 8 Mar 2011
  9. 3rd reading Commons 8 Mar 2011
  10. 1st reading Lords 9 Mar 2011
  11. 2nd reading Lords 22 Mar 2011
  12. Committee stage Lords 5 Apr to 25 May 2011
  13. Report stage Lords 8 Jun to 15 Jun 2011
  14. 3rd reading Lords 23 Jun 2011
  15. Programme motion Commons 11 Jul 2011
  16. Consideration of Lords amendments Commons 11 Jul 2011
  17. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons Lords 13 Jul 2011
  18. Royal Assent Unassigned 19 Jul 2011

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 10 Nov 2011.