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European Secretariat

Head of the European Secretariat and EU Advisor to the Prime Minister

Kim Darroch CMG

Deputy

Katrina Williams

What are our key responsibilities?

Part of the Cabinet Secretariat, our role is to co-ordinate the collective agreement of the Government's European policy and to provide advice on European matters to the Prime Minister. We are also a source of guidance and advice to Whitehall on EU procedures and mechanism, and work with the National School of Government to raise awareness of European issues across the Civil Service. We currently have a role in co-ordinating the UK Presidency of the EU. For more information please see the links below.

How do we support the Government on delivering their EU agenda?

We support the Prime Minister in his dealings with other heads of Government on 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 Policy Directorate to make sure that all briefing provided to the Prime Minister takes account of EU aspects.

How do we co-ordinate the Government's EU policy?

• We hold a weekly meeting, which the Head of the Secretariat chairs. The meeting takes place 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 all EU matters. This includes co-ordinating the Government's work on Parliamentary scrutiny of EU business 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' to support the Government's policy.

Contact Details

Phone: 020 7276 0086

Fax: 020 7276 0074

For internal users - European Secretariat Intranet [Government Secure Intranet]

Links

The EU Constitution

• European Convention
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Britain and the EU section

EU Presidencies

• The UK Presidency of the EU
• The Luxembourg Presidency of the EU - from January - June 2005
• EU Presidency websites listed on the Council of the European Union website

European Institutions

General

• Europa - the central website for all the European institutions
• Rapid - database of EU press releases
• European Commission
• The European Commission Representation in the UK
• European Parliament
• The European Parliament in the UK
• Council of the European Union
• Committee of the Regions
• Economic and Social Committee

Legal

• European Court of Justice
• CELEX - a legal data base containing all the official acts of the EU institutions
• EUR-Lex - a legal data base containing Community legislation in force

Financial

• Court of Auditors
• European Central Bank

UK Government information

• Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Britain and the EU section
• Get Ready for the Euro - the official UK government website with information for businesses about adjusting to the euro.
• EU Awareness Network - UK Government forum for exchange of European knowledge
• National School of Government - information about European training courses available to civil servants