European Union (Approvals) Bill — Clause 1 — Influence of Europe for Citizens Programme on EU Referenda and Elections — 27 Jan 2014 at 16:45
The majority of MPs voted not to ensure the the "Europe for Citizens" programme does not influence any EU referendum or election.
The amendment rejected was:
- amendment 3, page 1, line 16, leave out subsection (2) and insert—
- ‘(2) Except as provided for under subsection (2A), the provisions of this Act come into force on the day on which it is passed.
- (2A) Section 1 comes into force in relation to the draft decision to adopt the Council Regulation establishing for the period 2014-2020 the programme ‘Europe for Citizens’ (document number 12557/13) on whatever day the Secretary of State appoints by order made by statutory instrument.
- (2B) The Secretary of State may only make an order under subsection (2A) if—
- (a) he has laid a statement before both Houses of Parliament stating that no expenditure can take place under ‘Europe for Citizens’ that could influence any European Parliamentary election or referendum in the year prior to such an election or referendum, and
- (b) a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by both Houses of Parliament.
The effect of the amendments would have been to add the requirements described in subsections (a) and (b) restricting the scope of the "Europe for Citizens" programme.
MPs were debating the European Union (Approvals) Bill[1]
The Bill approves the "Europe for Citizens" Programme and gives it a budget of €185 million for 2014-20 (down from €229 million originally proposed).[2] Activities to be funded under the programme come under two themes: "Remembrance and European Citizenship" and "Democratic engagement and civic participation".
During a previous debate on the Bill an estimation of the UK's contribution to the costs of the "Europe for Citizens" Programme as being £2 million to £3 million a year, was provided in a speech by Edward Vaizey MP (Wantage, Conservative)[3]
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- [1] Parliament's webpage on the European Union (Approvals) Bill, now the European Union (Approvals) Act 2014
- [2] European Scrutiny Committee assessment of a Draft Council Regulation establishing for the period 2014-20 the Programme Europe for Citizens
- [3] Edward Vaizey MP (Wantage, Conservative), House of Commons, 13 January 2014
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