Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - 29 May 2025
Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee - Minutes of Proceedings - 29 May 2025.pdf (130.85 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 30
Present:
Ciara Ferguson MLA (Chairperson)
David Brooks MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Steve Aiken MLA
Declan Kearney MLA
Peter Martin MLA
Emma Sheerin MLA
Eóin Tennyson MLA
Present by Video:
Jonathan Buckley MLA
Apologies:
None.
In Attendance:
Christopher Dickison (Senior Assistant Clerk)
Jessica Jacques (Senior Assistant Clerk)
Victoria Bourquin (Assistant Clerk)
Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Shelley Garner (Clerical Officer)
In Attendance by Video:
Oliver Bellew (Assistant Clerk)
Damien Brown (Clerical Officer)
Suzanne Walsh (Clerical Supervisor)
The meeting commenced at 10.02am in closed session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Members' Interest
None.
3. COM/2023/258 Proposal for a Regulation establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 - Legal Advice
Simon Kelly, Legal Adviser, Assembly Legal Services, joined the meeting at 10.04am.
The Committee considered the following proposed EU act:
COM/2023/258 Proposal for a Regulation establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013.
The Committee noted that the proposed EU act has not been notified to the Committee, but following a work planning exercise on 20 February 2025, the Committee agreed to gather evidence on the proposed EU act.
The Legal Adviser provided advice on whether it appears likely that the proposed EU act differs significantly (in whole or in part) from the content or scope of the EU act it is amending/replacing.
Emma Sheerin joined the meeting at 10.05am.
Eóin Tennyson joined the meeting at 10.11am.
A question and answer session followed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to continue its consideration of the proposed EU act in public session.
The Legal Adviser left the meeting at 10.17am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move to public session at 10.17am.
The meeting commenced at 10.17am in public session.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2025.
5. Matters Arising
The Committee noted written answers from the Department of Health on COM/2023/192, a proposed Directive, and COM/2023/193, a proposed Regulation, which make up a package of legislative proposals to reform existing EU pharmaceutical legislation.
6. COM/2023/258 Proposal for a Regulation establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 - Departmental Oral Evidence
The Committee continued its consideration of the following proposed EU act:
COM/2023/258 Proposal for a Regulation establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013.
The following official joined the meeting at 10.20am:
Keith Brown Trade Regulation, Department for the Economy
The official gave oral evidence on the proposed EU act.
A question and answer session followed.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
The official left the meeting at 10.41am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the UK Government to request an update on its discussions with the European Commission on the potential application of the proposed EU act under the Windsor Framework; and regarding its implementation of the Border Target Operating Model and Single Trade Window and their interoperability with the proposed EU act.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek the views of stakeholders identified by RaISe via Citizen Space with a four-week deadline for response.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to include HMRC in its request for views.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask RaISe to monitor the progress of the proposed EU act.
7. Correspondence
7.1 The Committee noted a quarterly update from RaISe on COM/2024/52: Proposal for a Decision on field inspections and seed production in Moldova and Ukraine.
7.2 The Committee noted a quarterly update from RaISe on COM/2024/577: Proposal for a Regulation as regards the strengthening of the position of farmers in the food supply chain.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the update on the proposed EU act to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
7.3 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the Chair of the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee to the Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds regarding the recent UK-EU summit.
8. Chairperson's Business
The Committee noted that its visits to Westminster and Brussels would take place from 2 June to 5 June 2025.
The Chairperson informed Members that a paper providing a record of the meetings held would be circulated after the visits had taken place.
9. Any other business
Agreed: In relation to agenda item 5, the Committee agreed to write to the Department for Health to request more specific information on the implications for GPs, pharmacies, and the general public, if antimicrobial medicines have to be supplied or sold as prescription only medicines.
10. Date, time, and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 12 June 2025 at 10:00am in Room 30.
The meeting was adjourned at 10.49am.
Ciara Ferguson, MLA
Chairperson, Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
