European Union (Approvals) Bill 2015-16

The European Union (Approvals) Bill 2015 has two clauses. The first approves the two decisions and the second sets out the extent, commencement and short title of the Bill.

The Bill deals with the parliamentary approval of two draft EU Council decisions:

• draft decision on the participation of the Republic of Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia or FYROM) as an observer in the work of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since December 2005 and the legislation which set up the Human Rights Agency provides for candidate states to become observers.

• draft decision on a Tripartite Social Summit (TSS) for Growth and Employment,

The Bill, if passed, will authorise the Government to agree to the adoption of the two proposals in the EU Council.