Overview

This bill mandates the provision of information about the European Union (EU) in public buildings and online, allows the EU flag to be flown on UK government and public buildings, and promotes town twinning between UK and EU towns.

Description

The bill has four main parts:

• EU Information: Requires free access to information and statistics about the EU's activities, organization, decisions, and the Treaty of Lisbon in public buildings (libraries and council buildings) and online. Information must be provided in written and electronic formats.
• EU Flag: Permits the display of the EU flag alongside the Union flag on government and public buildings.
• Town Twinning: Requires information about the EU's town twinning support scheme (including financial support, scope, and application procedures) to be available in public buildings and online.
• Definitions: Clearly defines "government buildings" and "public buildings" for the purposes of the bill.

Government Spending

The bill is unlikely to significantly increase government spending. The cost will primarily involve the creation and distribution of information materials related to the EU. Specific figures are not provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The bill will affect several groups:

• Public Libraries and Council Buildings: These will be required to provide information about the EU.
• Government Buildings: These may display the EU flag.
• Local Authorities Involved in Town Twinning: These will have access to more information on EU support for such initiatives.
• UK Citizens: They will have greater access to information regarding the EU.

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