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<p>Under the European Union Act 2011, a referendum would be required before ministers
could support treaty change that led to a transfer of power or an area of competence
from the UK to the EU. The Act also specifies a number of decisions that would also
amount to a transfer of power or competence and so require a referendum. These include
giving up certain vetoes, joining the euro or giving up border controls.</p><p> </p><p>As
detailed in the Written Ministerial Statement of the 19<sup>th</sup> June on the UK's
opt in to the justice and home affairs provisions of two EU regulation proposals,
the Governments decision will commit authorities in the UK to enter into information
sharing engagements with their counterparts in other member states on criminal sanctions
relating to specific financial activities. This decision does not entail the transferring
of any additional powers or areas of competency to the European Union. As this is
the case, neither parliamentary consent nor a referendum is required.</p><p> </p><p>The
written ministerial statement is available at this web address:</p><p> </p><p>http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140619/wmstext/140619m0001.htm#14061945000004</p>
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