The Government have launched a website where Explanatory Memoranda (EMs) on EU documents submitted to Parliament under the long-established EU scrutiny arrangements can be consulted and downloaded.

Although Government EMs have previously been accessible in hard copy form through the British Library, the new website will help to promote a greater transparency of and access to the information submitted by the Government to Parliament on proposals for EU legislation and other EU documents.

The website can be found at http://european memorandum.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/search.aspx>

The site will enable users to:

Access all Government EMs on EU documents submitted to Parliament from 1 January 2007.

Download EMs, contact details are provided for further information. The Cabinet Office stores earlier EMs electronically dating back to 2003 and can be contacted for copies of earlier EMs.

Find out information about the United Kingdom's procedures for Parliamentary scrutiny of EU documents.

Use links to the websites of the House of Lords European Union Committee and the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee as well as to sites where EU Council of Ministers and Commission documents can be downloaded and the passing of EU legislation can be followed.