Policy paper

JHA opt-in and Schengen opt-out protocols

Approach to EU Justice and Home Affairs, parliamentary scrutiny, annual report, past and upcoming decisions, and the code of practice.

• From: Home Office, Ministry of Justice, The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, and The Rt Hon Lord McNally
• Published: 11 June 2013
• Last updated: 20 February 2015 — See all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Documents

Background information: JHA opt-in protocol and Schengen opt-out protocol

PDF, 85.6 KB, 4 pages

Decisions taken: JHA (Title V) opt-in and Schengen opt-out decisions

PDF, 479 KB, 32 pages

Code of practice on scrutiny of opt-in and Schengen opt-out decisions in justice and home affairs matters

PDF, 171 KB, 9 pages

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Details

The UK’s participation in EU legislation on Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) is principally governed by protocols 19 and 21 to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, collectively often referred to as the Lisbon Treaty.

The background document covers:

• an explanations of the protocols
• the government’s approach to participation in EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) legislation
• the scrutiny arrangements for decisions on participation in EU JHA legislation
• the annual report to Parliament on the JHA opt-in

The decision document describes JHA (Title V) opt-in and Schengen opt-out decisions taken between 1 December 2009 and the present. It lists the 83 proposals, plus those the government is currently considering and those on which a decision is expected in the next few months.

The code of practice provides guidance for government officials on the handling of parliamentary scrutiny aspects of justice and home affairs opt-in and Schengen opt-out decisions. This code of practice outlines the actions government departments will take to ensure opt-in and Schengen opt-out decisions take into account the views of Parliament.

Published 11 June 2013
Last updated 20 February 2015 + show all updates

1. 20 February 2015

   'Decisions taken' document updated.

2. 16 June 2014

   'Decisions taken' document updated.

3. 11 June 2013

   First published.