The controversial backstop will be on the agenda when Theresa May heads to Brussels after MPs backed an amendment to replace the plan with “alternative arrangements”. This would mean a reopening of the Withdrawal Agreement thrashed out between the UK and EU as the parties bid to find a way of avoiding a hard border in Ireland. However, European Council president Donald Tusk has said the agreement is not open for renegotiation.

A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LOBBYISTS came into effect as of 1st January 2019. The code, compiled by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo), falls under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. It was developed following a public consultation process, and takes into account other models and international best practice.

Code of Conduct

Persons carrying on lobbying activities shall have regard to the following principles:

1)     Demonstrating Respect for Public Bodies

Les dépenses administratives  affichées  de l’UE s'élèvent à 10 milliards d'euros (soit 6 % du budget). L’UE consacre environ 6% de son budget annuel aux dépenses administratives. Il s'agit des frais administratifs de toutes les institutions (essentiellement la Commission européenne, le Parlement européen et le Conseil de l'UE). Cela inclut les rémunérations et les pensions du personnel, les établissements scolaires pour les enfants des membres du personnel, le coût de la traduction et de l'interprétation dans toutes les langues officielles de l'Union et les bâtiments.

1. Sauver l'Europe, c'est avoir le courage de la refonder, c'est avoir la lucidité de dénoncer ce qui ne marche pas pour enfin pouvoir tourner la page des aveuglements successifs qui ont conduit l'Europe dans une impasse. Ceux qui sauveront l'Europe sont ceux qui auront eu le courage et la lucidité de la changer.

Authors: Corina Stratulat and Janis A. Emmanouilidis, European Policy Centre (EPC), Thomas Fischer, Bertelsmann Stiftung,  Sonia Piedrafita, Centre for European Policy Studies (EPS)

A threefold choice for National Parliaments

1. Upgrade the available gear

Author: Former PM David Cameron (2013)

General

Number of Seats in National Parliament

Austria: Freedom Party of Austria (National conservatism, Right-wing populism, Anti-immigration, Euroscepticism) 51/183

Belgium:

• New Flemish Alliance (Flemish nationalism, Regionalism, Separatism, Conservatism, Liberal conservatism, Republicanism) 33/150
• Flemish Interest (Flemish nationalism, Right-wing populism, Separatism, National conservatism, Euroscepticism, Republicanism) 3/150

Bulgaria

PM Theresa May will return to the Commons on 29 January to set out the next steps in the Brexit process. However, the opposition and backbench MPs have been tabling amendments to her motion in a bid to force the government to change direction. None of these amendments, if successful, would be binding on the government, although support for any of them would put political pressure on Theresa May to follow their direction. However, if Amendment 3  was successful, and MPs  were to approve it, it would become law and so place an obligation on the government

KEY CHALLENGES