Meetings

International Agreements: Agreements considered by the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee

This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.

Note: Meeting Agenda can change at short notice. Particularly where future meeting dates are indicated more than a week in advance. Please check before planning to attend a Committee Meeting that the item you are interested in has not been moved.

 

 

Meeting: 15/03/2021 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Consideration of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1     Members considered the following international agreements:

·         Free Trade Agreement between the UK and Turkey

·         UK-Iceland Air Services Agreement

·         UK-Norway Air Services Agreement

·         UK-Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)

3.2     Members agreed to write to the Welsh Government in relation to international agreements.

Meeting: 01/02/2021 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

7 International agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1 Members considered the agreement on trade in goods between Iceland, Norway and the UK.

7.2 Members agreed to write to the Welsh Government in respect of the agreement.

Meeting: 18/01/2021 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

7 International agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1 Members considered and noted Dr Maria Garcia’s report on the Trade Continuity Agreement between the UK and Canada.

Meeting: 11/01/2021 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 5: Correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition to the Chair and the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee regarding the Ministerial forum for Trade - 7 January 2021

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.5.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 03/12/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Consideration of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 Members considered and noted the following agreements:

6.1.1 Lugano Convention

6.1.2 UK-Norway Reciprocal Recognition of Civil Judgments

6.1.3 UK-Faroes Fisheries Framework Agreement

Meeting: 03/12/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 1: Correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition to the Chair regarding the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement - 23 November 2020

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 19/11/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 2)

2 Paper to note 3: Correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition to the Chair regarding the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement - 16 November 2020

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.3.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 19/11/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Consideration of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 Members considered and noted the UK-Norway Fisheries Framework Agreement.

Meeting: 12/11/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 2: Correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition to the Chair regarding the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement - 9 November 2020

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.2.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 12/11/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

7 International agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1 Members considered and noted the UK-USA Agreement on Technology Safeguards associated with US Participation in Space Launches from the UK

Meeting: 05/11/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 3: Correspondence from the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition to the Chair regarding EEA EFTA negotiations - 27 October 2020

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.3.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 05/11/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Consideration of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 Members considered and noted the Amended Schedules to the Agreement on Government Procurement as a result of the 2012 protocol amending the agreement on government procurement, entering into force for Switzerland.

Meeting: 01/10/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

7 Consideration of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1     Members considered and noted the Final Act of

the International Conference and Decision by the Energy Charter Conference in respect of the Amendment to the Trade-Related Provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty

 

Meeting: 17/09/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 13: Correspondence from the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language to the Chair regarding separation arrangements between the UK, and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - 28 August 2020

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 17/09/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 10: Correspondence from the First Minister to the Chair regarding UK-Poland Agreement - 24 August 2020

Supporting documents:

Meeting: 17/09/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Consideration of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1    Members considered and noted the following agreements:

·      Agreement between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK supplementing their 1993 Agreement on rail traffic between Belgium and the UK using the Channel Fixed Link

·      Agreement between the Netherlands and the UK concerning border controls on rail traffic using the Channel Fixed Link

·      Special Agreement between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK concerning security matters relating to trains using the Channel Fixed Link

Meeting: 14/07/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 1: Correspondence from the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism to the Chair regarding the Council of Europe’s Convention on Cinematic Co-Production - 3 July 2020

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 30/06/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 5)

5 International agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1    Members considered the UK-Poland Agreement on the reciprocal

participation of nationals in local elections.

5.2    Members agreed to write to the First Minister and to the Llywydd in relation to the agreement.

Meeting: 16/06/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 1: Digital trade and data equivalency - a paper from Professor Elaine Fahey - 20 April 2020

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 16/06/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Private international law (implementation of international agreements) Bill

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1    The paper was noted.

Meeting: 16/06/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 5)

Scrutiny session with the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language - consideration of evidence

Minutes:

5.1    Members considered the evidence received.

Meeting: 16/06/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 2)

2 Scrutiny session with the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1    The Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language responded to questions from Members.

Meeting: 16/06/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 2: Correspondence from the Chair of the House of Lords International Agreements Sub-Committee to the Chair regarding House of Lords inquiries on trade negotiations - 9 June 2020

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.2.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 02/06/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 5)

5 House of Lords EU International Agreements Sub-Committee inquiry into how Parliament scrutinises treaties - consideration of draft response

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1    Members considered and agreed the draft response.

Meeting: 04/05/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 4)

4 Consideration of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 Members considered an international agreement concerned with the Council of Europe: Convention on Cinematic Co-Production.

4.2 Members agreed to write to the Welsh Government to seek further information in relation to the agreement.

Meeting: 09/03/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 4)

4 Paper to note 3: Correspondence from the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language to the Chair regarding the UK’s trade negotiations with the USA - 4 March 2020

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.3.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 02/03/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 Members considered the Agreement on Arrangements between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and UK following the Withdrawal of UK from the EU, the EEA Arrangement and other Agreements applicable between UK and EEA EFTA States by virtue of UK's Membership of the EU

6.1.1 Members agreed to write to the Welsh Government to seek information in respect of the Separation Agreement.

Meeting: 10/02/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 3: Response from the Welsh Government to the Committee's report on UK international agreements after Brexit

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.3.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 10/02/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

7 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1 Members considered the following international agreements:

7.1.1 the agreement establishing an Association between the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of

Morocco;

7.1.2 the agreement establishing an Association between the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of

Jordan;

7.1.3; the agreement establishing an Association between the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of

Kosovo;

7.1.4 the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of

Uzbekistan.

7.2 Members agreed to write to the Welsh Government in relation to the Morocco, Jordan and Kosovo agreements:

7.2.1 to seek further information about their involvement in the negotiation of these agreements (and also all other association agreements that are intended to be transitioned as part of the Trade Agreement Continuity Programme); and

7.2.2 to ascertain whether the Welsh Government have raised any issues in

relation to their application in areas of devolved competence.

7.3 Members agreed to note the Uzbekistan agreement.

 

Meeting: 27/01/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1        Members considered and noted the following agreements:

6.1.1   UK/Switzerland: Transitional Agreement on Social Security for a Temporary Period following the Withdrawal of the UK; and

6.1.2   Economic Partnership Agreement between the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique and the UK.

Meeting: 13/01/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Consideration of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1.1  Members considered the strategic partnership and cooperation agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Georgia.

6.1.2  Members agreed to write to the Welsh Government to request further information.

6.2.1  Members considered the agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Lebanon.

6.2.2  Members agreed to write to the Welsh Government to request further information.

6.3.1  Members considered the agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Tunisia.

6.3.2  Members agreed to write to the Welsh Government to request further information.

Meeting: 06/01/2020 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 1: Correspondence from the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language to the Chair regarding Assembly scrutiny of international agreements - 9 December 2019

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1.1  The paper was noted.

Meeting: 02/12/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 2)

2 Paper to note 2: UK-South Korea free trade agreement - Dr Ricardo Pereira

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.2.1  The paper was noted.

 

Meeting: 02/12/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 5)

5 Scrutiny of international agreements - consideration of draft report

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1     Members considered the report.

5.2     Members agreed to publish the report subject to amendments.

Meeting: 18/11/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1     Members considered and noted the UK – Montenegro Air Service Agreement.

6.2     Members agreed to write to the Minister for Economy and

Transport for further information on what engagement the Welsh Government had in the negotiation process.

 

Meeting: 11/11/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

7 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1     Members considered and agreed to note the UK-USA Access to Electronic Data for the Purpose of Countering Serious Crime, and the Construction and Operation of a European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Facility.

Meeting: 21/10/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

7 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1     The Committee considered the UK/Korea: Free Trade Agreement and the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.

7.1.1  The Committee agreed to report on the UK/Korea: Free Trade Agreement.

7.1.2  The Committee agreed to note the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.

Meeting: 14/10/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 4)

4 Paper to note 2: Correspondence from the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language regarding international agreements - 3 October 2019

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.2.1  The paper was noted.

Meeting: 14/10/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Round table discussion with academics on the scrutiny of international agreements

Dr Andrew Blick - King’s College London

Dr Jack Simson Caird - Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law

Professor Jo Hunt – Cardiff University

Professor Michael Keating - University of Aberdeen

Professor Aileen McHarg - University of Durham

Professor Alan Page - University of Dundee

Akash Paun - Institute for Government

Professor Alison Young - Cambridge University

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1     Members discussed the scrutiny of international agreements with the panel.

Meeting: 07/10/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 5)

Private briefing on international agreements

Emma Edworthy, Welsh Government

Jonathan Price, Welsh Government

Owain Morgan, Welsh Government

Minutes:

5.1     Members received a briefing on international agreements from Welsh Government officials.

5.2     The officials responded to questions from Members.

Meeting: 23/09/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 9)

9 Scrutiny of international agreements: draft scrutiny process

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

9.1     Members considered the draft scrutiny process and agreed to undertake further work in this area.

 

Meeting: 16/09/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 10: Correspondence from the First Minister to the Chair regarding international obligations which bind the UK - 12 September 2019

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.10.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 16/09/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 8: Correspondence from the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language to the Chair regarding international trade - 9 September 2019

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.8.1 The paper was noted.

Meeting: 16/09/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 Members agreed to report on the UK-Portugal treaty on reciprocal voting rights for local elections and the UK-Luxembourg treaty on reciprocal voting rights for local elections.

6.2 Members considered and noted the following agreements:

6.2.1 New and Amended Schedules to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement as a result of Australia’s accession

6.2.2 UK-Switzerland agreement on admission to the labour market for a temporary transitional period and the Free Movement of Persons Agreement

6.2.3 Agreement establishing the International Organisation of Vine and Wine

6.2.4 International Coffee Agreement 2007

6.2.5 International Sugar Agreement 1992

6.2.6 UK-Central America association agreement

6.3 Members agreed to write to the Welsh Government to confirm whether the agreement text was shared with them once stable.

Meeting: 11/07/2019 - Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 5)

5 Correspondence from the First Minister to the Llywydd regarding international obligations that bind the United Kingdom - 3 July

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1a The Committee noted the Correspondence from the First Minister to the Llywydd regarding international obligations that bind the UK.

Meeting: 24/06/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 5)

5 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1     Members considered and noted the UK-Andean countries trade agreement.

Meeting: 17/06/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 3)

3 Paper to note 1: Correspondence from the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language to the Chair regarding the report on the agreement on trade in goods between Iceland, Norway and the UK - 7 June 2019

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1.1  The paper was noted.

Meeting: 03/06/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Paper to note 4: Correspondence from Michael Gove MP to the Chair regarding forestry policy - 23 May 2019

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.4.1  The paper was noted.

 

Meeting: 20/05/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 9)

9 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

9.1  Members agreed to report on the agreement on trade in goods between Iceland, Norway and the UK due to significant omissions in its scope when compared to the existing EU relationship with Iceland and Norway under the European Economic Area agreement.

9.2 Members considered and noted the UK/Norway: agreement on international road transport.

9.3 Members agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Transport to ask him to clarify how the terms of the UK/Norway: agreement on international road transport differ from those for road transport under the current European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement.

Meeting: 29/04/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

7 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1 Members considered the following agreements:

·         UK-CARIFORUM trade continuity agreement

·         Iceland-Norway trade continuity agreement

·         UK-Indonesia Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade in Timber Products

·         UK-Belarus Agreement concerning International Motor Vehicle Carriage

7.2 Members agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to seek a clarification of his statement on responsibility for forestry policy within the UK.

 

 

Meeting: 18/03/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 6)

6 Scrutiny of international agreements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1     Members agreed to report on the following agreements due to issues identified in the agreements that could impact Wales:

·         UK-Switzerland Trade Agreement

·         Palestine trade agreement

·         Israel trade agreement

6.2     Members considered the following agreements:

·         1994 Agreement on Government Procurement

·         Revised Agreement on Government Procurement

·         Mutual recognition agreement between the UK and the US

·         Agreement between the US and the UK on the mutual recognition of certificates of conformity for marine equipment

Meeting: 04/03/2019 - External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

7 Consideration of the Committee's approach to the scrutiny of international agreements laid before the UK Parliament

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1 Members considered and agreed the Committee's approach to the scrutiny of international agreements laid before the UK Parliament.

7.2 Members agreed to report on three of the agreements due to issues identified in the agreements that could impact Wales. The Committee also considered the following agreements:

 

  • UK/New Zealand: Agreement on Mutual Recognition in Relation to Conformity Assessment.
  • UK/Australia: Agreement on Mutual Recognition in Relation to Conformity Assessment, Certificates and Markings.
  • UK/Chile: Agreement on Trade in Organic Products.
  • Road Transport Agreement with Serbia.
  • Road Transport Agreement with Kazakhstan.
  • Road Transport Agreement with Switzerland.
  • Aviation Agreement with Switzerland.

 

 

 

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