MPS call for 'transparency' over Brexit negotiations
A committee of MPs have urged the Government to conduct its Brexit negotiations with the European Union with "the fullest possible transparency".
In a report published today, the European Scrutiny Committee has called on the Government to provide "regular progress reports" on the UK's exit negotiations in order to "facilitate essential parliamentary scrutiny" of major decisions made throughout the process.
As of January 31, the UK entered a transition period of Brexit which is due to last until December 31.
During this period, Britain must still adhere to EU laws and policies without having any say over them.
According to the committee, this makes the need for increased parliamentary scrutiny "imperative because decisions which may affect the UK are often taken by the EU's Council of Ministers behind closed doors... and there is no public transcript to explain the reasons for its decisions".
The report outlines a number of lingering "national interest" concerns amid the negotiations, including the jurisdiction of the EU Court of Justice, ease of trade and the "cross-border sharing of data" once the transition is complete.
The committee says effective scrutiny will require frequent reporting to Parliament as well as "openness to consultation and engagement with the large variety of stakeholders whose interests will be affected by the outcome of negotiations.
"The motion we propose for debate... urges the Government to provide updates to Parliament on stakeholder contributions... and to address concerns raised by the European Scrutiny and other Select Committees on aspects of the EU negotiating mandate which raise matters of vital national interest."
Published: by Radio NewsHub