How does the UK Parliament scrutinise EU legislation?
The Commons European Scrutiny Committee (ESC) and the Lords European Union Committee (EUC) examine all proposals for EU legislation, as well as discussion documents such as Commission Communications and Green and White Papers. Both Committees scrutinise all areas of EU activity from the internal market and environmental issues to foreign policy and justice and home affairs matters. The ESC in the Commons considers each EU document in the light of an Explanatory Memorandum supplied by the UK Government, and reports to the House of Commons whether a document raises matters of legal and/or political importance. The ESC can recommend documents for debate, either in a European Document Committee or on the floor of the House, or hold documents under scrutiny pending receipt of further information. The Lords EU Committee focuses on the most important EU documents and analyses the merits of these proposals in depth. The Committee acts as an investigative committee, carrying out inquiries and p
