Overview

The European Union (Approvals) Bill approves two specific decisions made by the Council of the European Union under Article 352 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). These decisions relate to the participation of North Macedonia as an observer in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the establishment of a Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment.

Description

This bill fulfills a requirement under section 8 of the European Union Act 2011. This Act mandates parliamentary approval for certain EU decisions. Specifically, this bill approves two draft decisions from the Council of the European Union:

• Decision (a): Grants observer status to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia) in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (Document number 11416/1/14)
• Decision (b): Establishes a Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment. (Document number 5820/14)

The bill ensures that the UK's participation in these EU initiatives is legally sound and compliant with UK law. The bill applies to the whole of the United Kingdom and comes into effect immediately upon passage.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not directly allocate or change government spending. The financial implications of the approved EU decisions are separate and would need to be assessed independently for each decision. No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The primary groups affected are:

• North Macedonia: Granted observer status in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, potentially leading to increased cooperation and information sharing.
• UK Government Departments: Responsible for implementing and interacting with the decisions on the Tripartite Social Summit and cooperation with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.
• Social Partners (Employers, Trade Unions, Government): Involved in the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment which aims to improve coordination on social and economic policies.
• European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights: Will have North Macedonia as an observer, potentially influencing its work and extending its reach.

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