The Balance of Competences Review is part of a Coalition commitment to analyse and examine the UK's relationship with the European Union (EU). Today sees the publication of the first set of reports, covering an overview of the single market, health, development co-operation and humanitarian aid, foreign policy, animal health and welfare and food safety, and taxation. Another 26 reports will be issued between now and the end of 2014. Once complete, the review will provide the most extensive analysis of the impact of EU membership on the UK ever undertaken.
Welcoming the publication of the reports, the Foreign Secretary said: "For the first time, these reports bring together in one place evidence from across the spectrum to provide an accurate and detailed picture of the impact that the European Union has on our everyday lives. In some cases, they have confirmed and illustrated what we believed already. In others, they have thrown up new evidence and perspectives on our relationship with the EU. At a time when the EU is facing considerable challenges and discussion on the EU in Britain is intensifying, it is vitally important that the debate in the UK is as well-informed as possible. These reports make a valuable contribution not only to the debate in this country but also to the debate taking place in other European nations about the future of the EU."
The reports were produced after extensive consultation with businesses, think tanks, academics and other bodies with direct experience of what EU membership means in practice. The final reports draw on evidence from right across the UK - from major businesses and think tanks like Open Europe, to professional and civil society organisations like the Royal Colleges and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. They also include input from international partners and organisations.
Contributors have provided many valuable examples of how EU membership affects the UK on a day-to-day basis. Some cases highlight the importance of maintaining national sovereignty in areas like direct taxation, to enable Member States to make decisions that safeguard their own national interests. Other examples illustrate areas where EU action has brought benefits to UK consumers and facilitated economic growth - for example, the role that the single market has played in bringing down the price of air transport and increasing the number of air routes in the EU.
The debate on reform is happening not just in the UK but right across Europe. Although the reports focus on the impact of EU action on the UK, many of the themes that emerge are likely to apply to our European partners, given the similar challenges we all face. These reports provide a serious and constructive contribution to this debate.
Departments are currently gathering evidence for the second set of reports, to be published before the end of the year. Reports in this semester will cover the Internal Market: Free movement of goods; Internal Market: Free movement of persons; Asylum and Immigration; Trade and Investment; Environment and Climate Change; Transport; Research and Development; Tourism, Culture and Sport; Civil Justice.
Responding to publication of the Balance of Competences' audit of EU powers today in the UK, UKIP's Leader Nigel Farage said: "It is a futile and cynical PR exercise by the Coalition because it is clear that David Cameron does not really mean it. On Wednesday 5th February 2013 MEPs voted on reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. When UKIP tabled amendments calling for the repatriation of fishing policy to the UK and the reintroduction of the 200 mile limit for fishing in accordance with UN law, the Tory Party voted against repatriating fisheries policy to the UK."
Continuing Mr Farage said: "Problem number one is that the Conservative Party does not really want to repatriate important powers to the UK. Cameron has said he will vote to stay in the EU come what may. Problem number two is that their interlocutors in Brussels are unwilling to transfer powers as well. Lastly, so far in 2013 , 84 separate legislative reports have passed through the European Parliament. The Conservatives voted in favour of 62% of these while UKIP voted in favour of 0%. This tells you all you need to know about each party's respective desire to repatriate powers back to the British people."
