Debate on the UK applying to join the European Union
A Westminster Hall debate, relating to the e-petition on the UK re-joining the EU, is scheduled for 12 October 2026. The debate will be led by Tony Vaughan MP.
Documents to download
-
The UK block opt-out in police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters: recent developments (326KB PDF)
The UK notified the Council on 24 July 2013 that it would make use of the block opt-out option from EU acts in the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters adopted before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.
Over the past couple of months the UK Government has been negotiating opting back into 35 measures. The Member States must agree unanimously on the UK’s opting back into these measures, but at the General Affairs Council on 24 June 2014 some States expressed reservations.
On 6 November 2014 the Government published Draft Criminal Justice and Data Protection (Protocol 36) Regulations 2014, which aim to transpose into UK law further measures to fully implement 11 of the 35 opt-back-in measures before the block opt-out notification cut-off date of 1 December 2014.
This note looks at recent developments in the UK’s negotiations and at parliamentary debates on the opt-out and opt-back-ins.
Documents to download
-
The UK block opt-out in police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters: recent developments (326KB PDF)
Related posts
-
-
Courts and Tribunals Bill 2026-27: Progress of the bill
The Courts and Tribunals Bill 2026-27 is passing through Parliament. It includes proposals to restrict the use of jury trials in certain criminal cases.
-
e-petition: remove sentence reductions for guilty pleas in controlling and coercive cases
An e-petition calling for legislation to prevent sentence reductions for late guilty pleas in cases of coercive control is being debated in Westminster Hall on 19 October 2026. The debate will be opened by Irene Campbell MP.
