Brussels, 12/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - In the evening of Monday 10 November, the UK House of Commons passed the United Kingdom's continuing involvement in 35 European judicial and policy cooperation areas, including the European arrest warrant (EAW).
Voting took place, however, in a climate of chaos with David Cameron's government refusing to separate the vote on the particularly controversial European arrest warrant. Several MPs believed that the government would put this instrument to them in a specific question but, on Monday evening, the House learned that that was not going to be the case, the UK media report.
Labour MPs called for a fresh vote on the EAW but the government believes the battle was won on Monday evening. Some MPs, however, are of the opinion that Cameron was seeking, above all, to avoid a humiliating defeat on the issue. The Council of the EU and the Commission now have to confirm the UK's involvement in 35 European measures between now and 1 December. As it was allowed to do under the terms of Protocol 36 of the Lisbon Treaty, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from 130 justice and home affairs policies. (SP)