Insight
Brexit and the Northern Ireland border
A major focus of Brexit negotiations under the May and Johnson Governments has been how to keep an open border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
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Research Briefing
UK foreign policy: Difficult choices
The UK faces some difficult foreign policy choices. Previously accepted international norms are being challenged. The global balance of power is shifting away from the West. It seems likely the UK will be sailing these choppy waters outside the European Union. And the ‘special relationship’ with the US is particularly challenged under President Trump. In
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Research Briefing
Brexit Glossary
This Commons Library research briefing contains a list of commonly-used terms and acronyms that have needed clarification since the United Kingdom voted in the June 2016 EU referendum.
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Research Briefing
Withdrawal Agreement Bill: The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland
What does the Withdrawal Agreement Bill say about what will happen to Northern Ireland post-Brexit? How will it translate into UK law the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in the Withdrawal Agreement that replaced the 'backstop'?
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Research Briefing
The October 2019 EU UK Withdrawal Agreement
Boris Johnson's Government negotiated a new 'deal' with the European Union, formed of a Political Declaration and a Withdrawal Agreement. This paper focuses on the Withdrawal Agreement and how it compares to the one negotiated by Theresa May's Government.
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Research Briefing
Northern Ireland, Citizenship and the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement
The definition of 'EEA citizen' in the rules for the Home Office's settled status scheme has recently changed. What are the consequences? How do these changes affect the people of Northern Ireland? Why are some people unhappy with these changes? What does British nationality law say about people born in Northern Ireland? How do these nationality laws interact with the birthright provision of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement? What does the European Convention on Human Rights say about identity and immigration? What do the people of Northern Ireland say when they are asked about their nationality? This paper looks at the complex issues behind all these questions.
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Debate Pack
Deforestation in the Amazon
MPs will debate e-petition 266638 relating to deforestation in the Amazon on 7 October in Westminster Hall. This House of Commons Library debate pack provides some background information and press and parliamentary coverage of the issue.
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Research Briefing
The UK’s EU Withdrawal Agreement
This briefing looks in detail at the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the EU and UK and finalised on 14 November 2018. It was endorsed by EU Member State leaders at a special European Council summit on 25 November and the UK Prime Minister promoted it in the UK Parliament and around the country. The Agreement was debated at length in Parliament on several occasions and has been voted on three times. But the House of Commons has not endorsed it. A second extension of Article 50 took exit day to 31 October 2019, but once again the UK is faced with the possibility of leaving the EU without an agreement if this agreement or another one is not ratified by the UK and the EU.
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Debate Pack
Colombia peace progress
A Westminster Hall debate on the 'Colombia Peace Process’ has been scheduled for Tuesday 18 June 2019, from 4:30-5:30pm. The debate will be led by Jo Stevens MP.
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Research Briefing
The EU27: Internal Politics and Views on Brexit
The other 27 EU Member States have maintained a largely united front in the Brexit negotiations and in maintaining that the negotiated Withdrawal Agreement should not be re-opened. This paper examines the views of each of the EU27 on Brexit and any contingency planning for a possible no-deal Brexit. It also provides background on their internal politics and trade and economic statistics.
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Research Briefing
Brexit: Proposals for the future UK-EU relationship
The House of Commons has voted on various options for the future UK-EU relationship in the hope that an agreed UK position may help to break the impasse following the Commons' rejection of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement. The Government says it may hold a further Commons vote on future relationship options. What options have been proposed?
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Research Briefing
The ‘Strasbourg package’
On 11 March 2019 the UK government and the EU agreed a series of 'interpretations' and 'clarifications' of the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration they negotiated in November 2018. What is in the published documents? What are their effects? To what extent do they provide legally binding guarantees? How did they change the Attorney General's legal opinion of the Withdrawal Agreement? What was the result of the second 'meaningful vote' held in the House of Commons on the updated 'package', and what happens next?
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Research Briefing
What if there’s no Brexit deal?
What could happen if the EU and UK negotiators don't agree a withdrawal agreement in time and the UK has to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 without one - and with no framework for future relations either? This paper looks at how such a situation might come about, the constitutional implications for the UK and in some cases for the devolved administrations, and what the impact might be in a range of policy areas.
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Debate Pack
Political situation in Venezuela
A Westminster Hall debate on the 'Political situation in Venezuela' is scheduled for Tuesday 29 January 2019 from 4:30pm. The Member leading the debate is Graham P Jones MP.
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