European and Global Issues Secretariat
Head of the Secretariat and International Economic and EU Advisor to the Prime Minister
Jon Cunliffe
Deputy
Paul Rankin
What are our key responsibilities?
Part of the Cabinet Secretariat, our role is to coordinate the collective agreement of the Government's International Economic and European policy and to provide advice on these matters to the Prime Minister. We are also a source of guidance and advice to Whitehall on EU procedures and mechanisms, and work with the National School of Government to raise awareness of European issues across the Civil Service.
How do we support the Government on delivering their policy agenda?
We support the Prime Minister in his dealings with other heads of Government on International Economics (including the G8, international trade, and development issues) and EU matters;
We pursue high-level negotiations and contacts with officials in other EU Member States, and Accession States, as well as more widely in pursuit of British interests in the EU;
We work closely with the Prime Minister's office to make sure that all briefing provided to the Prime Minister takes account of EU aspects.
How do we coordinate the Government's EU and International policies?
- We provide the Secretariat to the Ministerial Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development Sub-Committee on Europe (NSID(EU)); the Committee's terms of reference are:
“To determine and coordinate the United Kingdom's policies on European Union issues; and report as necessary to the Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development”
Other key Cabinet Committees which the Secretariat supports include NSID(OD)A (Africa) & NSID(OD)T (Trade)
- We hold regular meetings, which the Head of the Secretariat chairs, with the UK's Ambassador to the EU and other senior Whitehall officials;
- We chair ad hoc meetings of officials to address individual policy issues;
- We act as a focal point within the Government for handling advice and guidance on International Economics and EU matters. This includes coordinating the Government's work on Parliamentary scrutiny of EU business (further information, including copies of Government Explanatory Memoranda EU documents and letters Ministers send to the two Parliamentary scrutiny committees can be found on the European Memorandum website) and responses to legal proceedings brought against the UK by the European Commission, and
- We hold frequent meetings with officials from other EU Member States, Accession States and ‘near neighbours’ and the wider international community to support the Government's policy.
- We hold bilateral meetings with international partners on issues of mutual interest eg. International climate change.
Contact Details
Phone: 020 7276 0185/0165
Fax: 020 7276 0074
Links
EU Presidencies
European Institutions
General
Legal
- European Court of Justice [External website]
- CELEX [External website] – a legal data base containing all the official acts of the EU institutions
- EUR-Lex [External website] – a legal data base containing Community legislation in force
Financial
UK Government information
