Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/12/body?view=plain
Timestamp: 2013-05-24 03:30:56
Document Index: 751712111

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2']

Back to full view	European Union Act 2011Previous: IntroductionNext: ScheduleProspective Part 1 E+W+S+N.I.Restrictions on treaties and decisions relating to EUIntroductoryE+W+S+N.I.1Interpretation of Part 1E+W+S+N.I.(1)This section has effect for the interpretation of this Part.
Restrictions relating to amendments of TEU or TFEUE+W+S+N.I.2Treaties amending or replacing TEU or TFEUE+W+S+N.I.(1)A treaty which amends or replaces TEU or TFEU is not to be ratified unless—
3Amendment of TFEU under simplified revision procedureE+W+S+N.I.(1)Where the European Council has adopted an Article 48(6) decision subject to its approval by the member States, a Minister of the Crown may not confirm the approval of the decision by the United Kingdom unless—
(a)a statement relating to the decision was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 5,
(b)the decision is approved by Act of Parliament, and
(c)the referendum condition, the exemption condition or the significance condition is met.
(a)the Act providing for the approval of the decision provides that the provision approving the decision is not to come into force until a referendum about whether the decision should be approved has been held throughout the United Kingdom or, where the decision also affects Gibraltar, throughout the United Kingdom and Gibraltar,
(c)the majority of those voting in the referendum are in favour of the approval of the decision.
(3)The exemption condition is that the Act providing for the approval of the decision states that the decision does not fall within section 4.
(4)The significance condition is that the Act providing for the approval of the decision states that—
(a)the decision falls within section 4 only because of provision of the kind mentioned in subsection (1)(i) or (j) of that section, and
(b)the effect of that provision in relation to the United Kingdom is not significant.
4Cases where treaty or Article 48(6) decision attracts a referendumE+W+S+N.I.(1)Subject to subsection (4), a treaty or an Article 48(6) decision falls within this section if it involves one or more of the following—
(a)the extension of the objectives of the EU as set out in Article 3 of TEU;
(b)the conferring on the EU of a new exclusive competence;
(c)the extension of an exclusive competence of the EU;
(d)the conferring on the EU of a new competence shared with the member States;
(e)the extension of any competence of the EU that is shared with the member States;
(f)the extension of the competence of the EU in relation to—
(i)the co-ordination of economic and employment policies, or
(ii)common foreign and security policy;
(g)the conferring on the EU of a new competence to carry out actions to support, co-ordinate or supplement the actions of member States;
(h)the extension of a supporting, co-ordinating or supplementing competence of the EU;
(i)the conferring on an EU institution or body of power to impose a requirement or obligation on the United Kingdom, or the removal of any limitation on any such power of an EU institution or body;
(j)the conferring on an EU institution or body of new or extended power to impose sanctions on the United Kingdom;
(k)any amendment of a provision listed in Schedule 1 that removes a requirement that anything should be done unanimously, by consensus or by common accord;
(l)any amendment of Article 31(2) of TEU (decisions relating to common foreign and security policy to which qualified majority voting applies) that removes or amends the provision enabling a member of the Council to oppose the adoption of a decision to be taken by qualified majority voting;
(m)any amendment of any of the provisions specified in subsection (3) that removes or amends the provision enabling a member of the Council, in relation to a draft legislative act, to ensure the suspension of the ordinary legislative procedure.
(2)Any reference in subsection (1) to the extension of a competence includes a reference to the removal of a limitation on a competence.
(3)The provisions referred to in subsection (1)(m) are—
(a)Article 48 of TFEU (social security),
(b)Article 82(3) of TFEU (judicial co-operation in criminal matters), and
(c)Article 83(3) of TFEU (particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension).
5Statement to be laid before ParliamentE+W+S+N.I.(1)If a treaty amending TEU or TFEU is agreed in an inter-governmental conference, a Minister of the Crown must lay the required statement before Parliament before the end of the 2 months beginning with the date on which the treaty is agreed.
(2)If an Article 48(6) decision is adopted by the European Council subject to its approval by the member States, a Minister of the Crown must lay the required statement before Parliament before the end of the 2 months beginning with the date on which the decision is adopted.
(3)The required statement is a statement as to whether, in the Minister's opinion, the treaty or Article 48(6) decision falls within section 4.
(4)If the Minister is of the opinion that an Article 48(6) decision falls within section 4 only because of provision of the kind mentioned in subsection (1)(i) or (j) of that section, the statement must indicate whether in the Minister's opinion the effect of that provision in relation to the United Kingdom is significant.
(5)The statement must give reasons for the Minister's opinion under subsection (3) and, if relevant, subsection (4).
(6)In relation to an Article 48(6) decision adopted by the European Council before the day on which this section comes into force (“the commencement date”), the condition in section 3(1)(a) is to be taken to be complied with if a statement under this section is laid before Parliament before the end of the 2 months beginning with the commencement date.
Restrictions relating to other decisions under TEU or TFEUE+W+S+N.I.6Decisions requiring approval by Act and by referendumE+W+S+N.I.(1)A Minister of the Crown may not vote in favour of or otherwise support a decision to which this subsection applies unless—
7Decisions requiring approval by ActE+W+S+N.I.(1)A Minister of the Crown may not confirm the approval by the United Kingdom of a decision to which this subsection applies unless the decision is approved by Act of Parliament.
(2)The decisions to which subsection (1) applies are—
(a)a decision under the provision of Article 25 of TFEU that permits the adoption of provisions to strengthen or add to the rights listed in Article 20(2) of that Treaty (rights of citizens of the European Union);
(b)a decision under the provision of Article 223(1) of TFEU that permits the laying down of the provisions necessary for the election of the members of the European Parliament in accordance with that Article;
(c)a decision under the provision of Article 262 of TFEU that permits the conferring of jurisdiction on the Court of Justice of the European Union in disputes relating to the application of acts adopted on the basis of the EU Treaties which create European intellectual property rights;
(d)a decision under the third paragraph of Article 311 of TFEU to adopt a decision laying down provisions relating to the system of own resources of the European Union.
(3)A Minister of the Crown may not vote in favour of or otherwise support a decision to which this subsection applies unless the draft decision is approved by Act of Parliament.
(4)The decisions to which subsection (3) applies are—
(a)a decision under the provision of Article 17(5) of TEU that permits the alteration of the number of members of the European Commission;
(b)a decision under Article 48(7) of TEU which in relation to any provision not listed in Schedule 1—
(c)a decision under the provision of Article 64(3) of TFEU that permits the adoption of measures which constitute a step backwards in European Union law as regards the liberalisation of the movement of capital to or from third countries;
(d)a decision under the provision of Article 126(14) of TFEU that permits the adoption of provisions to replace the Protocol (No. 12) on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to TEU and TFEU;
(e)a decision under the provision of Article 333(1) of TFEU (enhanced co-operation) that permits the adoption of qualified majority voting, where the decision relates to a provision not listed in Schedule 1 and the United Kingdom is a participant in the enhanced co-operation to which the decision relates;
(f)a decision under the provision of Article 333(2) of TFEU (enhanced co-operation) that permits the adoption of the ordinary legislative procedure in place of a special legislative procedure, where—
(i)the decision relates to a provision not listed in Schedule 1,
(iii)the United Kingdom is a participant in the enhanced co-operation to which the decision relates.
8Decisions under Article 352 of TFEUE+W+S+N.I.(1)A Minister of the Crown may not vote in favour of or otherwise support an Article 352 decision unless one of subsections (3) to (5) is complied with in relation to the draft decision.
(2)An Article 352 decision is a decision under the provision of Article 352 of TFEU that permits the adoption of measures to attain one of the objectives set out in the EU Treaties (but for which those Treaties have not provided the necessary powers).
(3)This subsection is complied with if a draft decision is approved by Act of Parliament.
(4)This subsection is complied with if—
(a)in each House of Parliament a Minister of the Crown moves a motion that the House approves Her Majesty's Government's intention to support a specified draft decision and is of the opinion that the measure to which it relates is required as a matter of urgency, and
(b)each House agrees to the motion without amendment.
(5)This subsection is complied with if a Minister of the Crown has laid before Parliament a statement specifying a draft decision and stating that in the opinion of the Minister the decision relates only to one or more exempt purposes.
(6)The exempt purposes are—
(a)to make provision equivalent to that made by a measure previously adopted under Article 352 of TFEU, other than an excepted measure;
(b)to prolong or renew a measure previously adopted under that Article, other than an excepted measure;
(c)to extend a measure previously adopted under that Article to another member State or other country;
(d)to repeal existing measures adopted under that Article;
(e)to consolidate existing measures adopted under that Article without any change of substance.
(7)In subsection (6)(a) and (b), “excepted measure” means a measure adopted after the commencement of this section and resulting from a decision in relation to which a Minister of the Crown had relied on compliance with subsection (4).
9Approval required in connection with Title V of Part 3 of TFEUE+W+S+N.I.(1)A Minister of the Crown may not give a notification to which this subsection applies unless Parliamentary approval has been given in accordance with subsection (3).
(2)Subsection (1) applies in relation to a notification under Article 3 of Protocol (No. 21) on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to TEU and TFEU (the “AFSJ Protocol”) that the United Kingdom wishes to take part in the adoption and application of a measure proposed under any of the following—
(a)the provision of Article 81(3) of TFEU (family law) that permits the application of the ordinary legislative procedure in place of a special legislative procedure;
(b)the provision of Article 82(2)(d) of TFEU (criminal procedure) that permits the identification of further specific aspects of criminal procedure to which directives adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure may relate;
(c)the provision of Article 83(1) of TFEU (particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension) that permits the identification of further areas of crime to which directives adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure may relate.
(3)Parliamentary approval is given if—
(a)in each House of Parliament a Minister of the Crown moves a motion that the House approves Her Majesty's Government's intention to give a notification in respect of a specified measure, and
(4)Despite any Parliamentary approval given for the purposes of subsection (1), a Minister may not vote in favour of or otherwise support a decision under a provision falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (2) unless the draft decision is approved by Act of Parliament.
(5)A Minister of the Crown may not give a notification under Article 4 of the AFSJ Protocol that the United Kingdom wishes to accept a measure to which this subsection applies unless the notification in respect of the measure has been approved by Act of Parliament.
(6)The measures to which subsection (5) applies are—
(a)a measure adopted under a provision described in any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (2), or
(b)a measure established under Article 81(3), 82(2)(d) or 83(1) of TFEU by virtue of a previous decision adopted, without the participation of the United Kingdom, under a provision falling within any of those paragraphs.
10Parliamentary control of certain decisions not requiring approval by ActE+W+S+N.I.(1)A Minister of the Crown may not vote in favour of or otherwise support a decision under any of the following unless Parliamentary approval has been given in accordance with this section—
(a)the provision of Article 56 of TFEU that permits the extension of the provisions of Chapter 3 of Title IV of Part 3 of that Treaty (free movement of services) to nationals of a third country;
(b)Article 129(3) of TFEU (amendment of provisions of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks or of the European Central Bank);
(c)the provision of Article 252 of TFEU that permits an increase in the number of Advocates-General;
(d)the provision of Article 257 of TFEU that permits the establishment of specialised courts attached to the General Court;
(e)the provision of Article 281 of TFEU that permits the amendment of the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union;
(f)the provision of Article 308 of TFEU that permits the amendment of the Statute of the European Investment Bank.
(2)A Minister of the Crown may not vote in favour of or otherwise support a decision to which this subsection applies unless Parliamentary approval has been given in accordance with this section.
(3)Subsection (2) applies to a decision under Article 48(7) of TEU which in relation to a provision of TFEU applies the ordinary legislative procedure in place of a special legislative procedure not requiring the Council to act unanimously.
(4)A Minister of the Crown may not confirm the approval by the United Kingdom of a decision under Article 218(8) of TFEU for the accession of the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in accordance with Article 6(2) of TEU unless Parliamentary approval has been given in accordance with this section.
(5)Parliamentary approval is given if—
(a)in each House of Parliament a Minister of the Crown moves a motion that the House approves Her Majesty's Government's intention to support the adoption of a specified draft decision, and
Further provisions about referendums held in pursuance of section 2, 3 or 6E+W+S+N.I.11Persons entitled to vote in referendumE+W+S+N.I.(1)The persons entitled to vote in any referendum held in pursuance of section 2, 3 or 6 are to be as follows—
(a)the persons who, on the date of the referendum, would be entitled to vote as an elector at a parliamentary election in a constituency in the United Kingdom;
(b)the persons who, on that date, are disqualified by reason of being peers from voting as electors in parliamentary elections but—
(iii)would be entitled to vote as electors at a European Parliamentary election in any electoral region by virtue of section 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (peers resident outside the United Kingdom);
(c)if the referendum is also held in Gibraltar, the Commonwealth citizens who, on the date of the referendum, would be entitled to vote in Gibraltar at a European Parliamentary election in the combined electoral region in which Gibraltar is comprised.
(2)In subsection (1)(b)(i) “local government election” includes a municipal election in the City of London (that is, an election to the office of mayor, alderman, common councilman or sheriff and also the election of any officer elected by the mayor, aldermen and liverymen in common hall).
12Separate questionsE+W+S+N.I.If a referendum is to be held in pursuance of any of sections 2, 3 and 6 in relation to two or more treaties or decisions, or in relation to one or more treaties and one or more decisions, a separate question must be included on the ballot paper in relation to each treaty or decision.
13Role of Electoral CommissionE+W+S+N.I.Where an Act provides for a referendum to be held in pursuance of section 2, 3 or 6, the Electoral Commission—
(a)must take whatever steps they think appropriate to promote public awareness of the referendum and how to vote in it, and
(b)may take whatever steps they think appropriate to promote public awareness of the subject-matter of the referendum.
SupplementaryE+W+S+N.I.14Consequential amendments and repeals relating to Part 1E+W+S+N.I.(1)In section 5 of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (amendment of founding treaties)—
(a)in subsection (2), for the words from “amends” onwards substitute “ amends the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (signed at Rome on 25th March 1957). ”, and
(b)accordingly, in the heading, for “founding treaties” substitute “ Euratom Treaty ”.
(2)In section 23 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (section 20 of that Act not to apply to certain descriptions of treaties), in subsection (1)—
(b)in paragraph (b), for “founding Treaties” substitute “ Treaty establishing European Atomic Energy Community ”, and
“(c)a treaty that is subject to a requirement imposed by Part 1 of the European Union Act 2011 (restrictions on treaties and decisions relating to EU).”
(3)The following enactments (which are superseded by the provisions of this Part) are repealed—
(a)section 2 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993,
(b)section 1(2) and (3) of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 2002,
(c)section 12 of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002, and
(d)section 6 of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008.
Part 2 E+W+S+N.I.Implementation of transitional Protocol on MEPs15Protocol on MEPs: approval, and addition to list of treatiesE+W+S+N.I.(1)The Protocol 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, signed at Brussels on 23 June 2010, is approved for the purposes of section 5 of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (amendment of founding Treaties: approval by Act of Parliament).
(2)In section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, in the definition of “the Treaties”, after paragraph (s) insert— “and (t)the Protocol 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, signed at Brussels on 23 June 2010;”.
Prospective16Number of MEPs and electoral regionsE+W+S+N.I.(1)Section 1 of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002 is amended as follows.
“West Midlands7”Prospective17Election of additional MEPE+W+S+N.I.(1)The additional seat allocated to the West Midlands electoral region by virtue of section 16 is to be filled by applying subsections (5) to (9) of section 2 of the 2002 Act (voting system in Great Britain and Gibraltar) to the results of the poll at the general election of members of the European Parliament held on 4 June 2009, as if the seat had been allocated to the region at that date.
(2)Subsection (1) is subject to Schedule 2 which makes further provision about the filling of the additional seat.
(3)This section and Schedule 2—
(a)cease to have effect on the date appointed under section 4 of the 2002 Act as the date of the poll at the next general election of members of the European Parliament after the passing of this Act, and
(b)do not affect the procedure to be followed in accordance with regulations made under section 5 of the 2002 Act if, after being filled in accordance with this section and Schedule 2, the additional seat subsequently becomes vacant before that date.
(4)In this section and in Schedule 2 “the 2002 Act” means the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002.
Part 3 E+W+S+N.I.GeneralStatus of EU lawE+W+S+N.I.18Status of EU law dependent on continuing statutory basisE+W+S+N.I.Directly applicable or directly effective EU law (that is, the rights, powers, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, remedies and procedures referred to in section 2(1) of the European Communities Act 1972) falls to be recognised and available in law in the United Kingdom only by virtue of that Act or where it is required to be recognised and available in law by virtue of any other Act.
Final provisionsE+W+S+N.I.19Financial provisionsE+W+S+N.I.(1)There is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable under any other Act out of money so provided.
(2)There is to be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund any increase attributable to this Act in the sums charged on and paid out of that Fund under any other Act.
20ExtentE+W+S+N.I.(1)This Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.
(2)Part 2 (and this section and sections 21 and 22 so far as relating to that Part) extend also to Gibraltar.
21CommencementE+W+S+N.I.(1)The following provisions come into force on the day on which this Act is passed—
(2)The other provisions of this Act come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.
22Short titleE+W+S+N.I.This Act may be cited as the European Union Act 2011.