BETA


2018/0279(NLE) Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980): accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan; acceptance by Austria, Luxembourg and Romania

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead JURI HONEYBALL Mary (icon: S&D S&D) RADEV Emil (icon: PPE PPE), DZHAMBAZKI Angel (icon: ECR ECR)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 081-p3, TFEU 218-p6b-ab

Events

2019/02/22
   Final act published in Official Journal
Details

PURPOSE: to authorise Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Convention).

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2019/308 authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

CONTENT: under this Council Decision, Austria, Luxembourg and Romania are hereby authorised to accept, in the interest of the Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Convention).

Austria, Luxembourg and Romania shall, no later than 19 February 2020, deposit a declaration of acceptance of the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention in the interest of the Union.

The 1980 Hague Convention establishes, at the international level, a system of obligations and cooperation between Contracting States and between central authorities and aims to ensure the immediate return of wrongfully removed or retained children. All EU Member States are parties to the Convention.

Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 (‘Brussels II bis’ Regulation) complements and reinforces the 1980 Hague Convention. It aims to protect children from the harmful effects of wrongful removal or retention and to establish procedures to ensure their prompt return to the state of their habitual residence, as well as to secure the protection of rights of access and rights of custody.

The European Union has set as one of its aims the promotion of the protection of the rights of the child. Measures for the protection of children against wrongful removal or retention are an essential part of that policy. In this context, the Union encourages third States to accede to the 1980 Hague Convention and supports the proper implementation of the Convention.

In its Opinion 1/13 of the Court of Justice of the European Union, it was stated that the exclusive competence of the European Union. The decision whether to accept the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan has to be taken at EU level by means of a Council Decision.

Belarus deposited its instrument of accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on 12 January 1998. The 1980 Hague Convention entered into force for Belarus on 1 April 1998. T he 1980 Convention is already in force between these two third countries and 24 EU Member States. Austria, Luxembourg and Romania, consulted by the Commission, gave a favourable opinion on the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the Convention.

The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania shall make the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan and all EU Member States except Denmark.

The United Kingdom and Ireland are bound by the Brussels IIa Regulation and are therefore taking part in the adoption and application of this Decision.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the decision shall take effect on the day of its notification.

2019/02/18
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
2019/02/18
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2019/02/18
   CSL - Council Meeting
2019/01/31
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2019/01/31
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 618 votes to 15, with 16 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Parliament has approved the authorisation for Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania will make the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan and all EU Member States with the exception of Denmark.

Documents
2018/12/11
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the report by Mary HONEYBALL (S&D, UK) on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

As the matter of international child abduction falls within the exclusive external competence of the European Union, the decision whether to accept the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan has to be taken at EU level by means of a Council Decision. Austria, Luxembourg and Romania should thus make the declaration of acceptance concerning the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan in the interest of the European Union.

The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania would render the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan and all EU Member States except Denmark

The committee called on the European Parliament to approve the proposal without amendment, in order to ensure that EU-wide protection is afforded to the children in question.

Documents
2018/12/06
   EP - Vote in committee
2018/11/07
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2018/09/24
   EP - HONEYBALL Mary (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in JURI
2018/09/10
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2018/07/06
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to authorise Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Convention).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: the 1980 Convention has been ratified by 98 countries including all EU Member States. Its purpose is to restore the status quo by means of the prompt return of wrongfully removed or retained children through a system of cooperation among central authorities appointed by its Contracting Parties.

As the prevention of child abduction is an essential part of the EU policy to promote the rights of the child, the European Union is active at international level to improve the application of the 1980 Convention and encourages third States to accede it.

The 1980 Convention stipulates that the Convention applies between the acceding country and such Contracting States as will have declared their acceptance of the accession.

In its Opinion 1/13 of the Court of Justice of the European Union, it was stated that the exclusive competence of the European Union . The decision whether to accept the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan has to be taken at EU level by means of a Council Decision.

Belarus and Uzbekistan deposited their accession instruments to the 1980 Convention on 12 January 1998 and 31 May 1999 respectively. The 1980 Convention is already in force between these two third countries and 24 EU Member States. Austria, Luxembourg and Romania, consulted by the Commission, gave a favourable opinion on the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the Convention.

As regards parental abduction, the 1980 Convention is the international counterpart to Council Regulation No 2201/2003 (Brussels IIa Regulation), one of the main objectives of which is to discourage parents from abducting their children to another Member State by establishing procedures which ensure the immediate return of the child to the Member State of his or her habitual residence.

14 Council Decisions have been already adopted between June 2015 and December 2017 in order to accept the accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction of 20 third countries (Morocco, Singapore, the Russian Federation, Albania, Andorra, the Seychelles, Armenia, the Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, Peru, Georgia, South Africa, Chile, Iceland, the Bahamas, Panama, Uruguay, Colombia, El Salvador and San Marino).

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council adopt a decision authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention. The present proposal is evidently linked to the general objective enshrined in Article 3 of the Treaty on the European Union to protect the rights of the child.

Austria, Luxembourg and Romania should submit their declarations of acceptance at the latest 12 months after the date of adoption of this Decision.

The United Kingdom and Ireland are bound by the Brussels IIa Regulation and are therefore taking part in the adoption and application of this Decision.

The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania would render the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan and all EU Member States except Denmark.

Documents

Votes

A8-0458/2018 - Mary Honeyball - Vote unique 31/01/2019 12:23:55.000 #

2019/01/31 Outcome: +: 618, 0: 16, -: 15
DE FR IT ES PL GB RO BE PT HU AT BG CZ SE NL EL FI DK IE LT HR SK LU EE LV SI CY MT ??
Total
82
63
64
47
45
61
27
21
19
18
17
16
18
16
24
15
12
11
10
9
9
9
6
6
6
5
5
5
1
icon: PPE PPE
187

United Kingdom PPE

1

Finland PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Cyprus PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
163

Netherlands S&D

For (2)

2

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

1

Croatia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1

Cyprus S&D

1

Malta S&D

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
63

Germany ALDE

3

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Romania ALDE

3

Portugal ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

2

Denmark ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Croatia ALDE

2

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Latvia ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
64

Romania ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2

Sweden ECR

2

Netherlands ECR

2

Greece ECR

For (1)

1
2

Lithuania ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

1

Cyprus ECR

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
48

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
41

Italy GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: ENF ENF
33

Germany ENF

For (1)

1
2

United Kingdom ENF

4

Belgium ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Austria ENF

3

Netherlands ENF

4
icon: NI NI
14

Germany NI

2

France NI

For (1)

1

Hungary NI

2

NI

For (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
34

Germany EFDD

For (1)

1

Poland EFDD

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2018-11-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE630.396 title: PE630.396 type: Committee draft report body: EP
events
  • date: 2018-07-06T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0530/COM_COM(2018)0530_EN.pdf title: COM(2018)0530 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2018&nu_doc=0530 title: EUR-Lex summary: PURPOSE: to authorise Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Convention). PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion. BACKGROUND: the 1980 Convention has been ratified by 98 countries including all EU Member States. Its purpose is to restore the status quo by means of the prompt return of wrongfully removed or retained children through a system of cooperation among central authorities appointed by its Contracting Parties. As the prevention of child abduction is an essential part of the EU policy to promote the rights of the child, the European Union is active at international level to improve the application of the 1980 Convention and encourages third States to accede it. The 1980 Convention stipulates that the Convention applies between the acceding country and such Contracting States as will have declared their acceptance of the accession. In its Opinion 1/13 of the Court of Justice of the European Union, it was stated that the exclusive competence of the European Union . The decision whether to accept the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan has to be taken at EU level by means of a Council Decision. Belarus and Uzbekistan deposited their accession instruments to the 1980 Convention on 12 January 1998 and 31 May 1999 respectively. The 1980 Convention is already in force between these two third countries and 24 EU Member States. Austria, Luxembourg and Romania, consulted by the Commission, gave a favourable opinion on the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the Convention. As regards parental abduction, the 1980 Convention is the international counterpart to Council Regulation No 2201/2003 (Brussels IIa Regulation), one of the main objectives of which is to discourage parents from abducting their children to another Member State by establishing procedures which ensure the immediate return of the child to the Member State of his or her habitual residence. 14 Council Decisions have been already adopted between June 2015 and December 2017 in order to accept the accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction of 20 third countries (Morocco, Singapore, the Russian Federation, Albania, Andorra, the Seychelles, Armenia, the Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, Peru, Georgia, South Africa, Chile, Iceland, the Bahamas, Panama, Uruguay, Colombia, El Salvador and San Marino). CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council adopt a decision authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention. The present proposal is evidently linked to the general objective enshrined in Article 3 of the Treaty on the European Union to protect the rights of the child. Austria, Luxembourg and Romania should submit their declarations of acceptance at the latest 12 months after the date of adoption of this Decision. The United Kingdom and Ireland are bound by the Brussels IIa Regulation and are therefore taking part in the adoption and application of this Decision. The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania would render the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan and all EU Member States except Denmark.
  • date: 2018-09-10T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-12-06T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-12-11T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2018-0458&language=EN title: A8-0458/2018 summary: The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the report by Mary HONEYBALL (S&D, UK) on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. As the matter of international child abduction falls within the exclusive external competence of the European Union, the decision whether to accept the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan has to be taken at EU level by means of a Council Decision. Austria, Luxembourg and Romania should thus make the declaration of acceptance concerning the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan in the interest of the European Union. The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania would render the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan and all EU Member States except Denmark The committee called on the European Parliament to approve the proposal without amendment, in order to ensure that EU-wide protection is afforded to the children in question.
  • date: 2019-01-31T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2019-0052 title: T8-0052/2019 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 618 votes to 15, with 16 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Parliament has approved the authorisation for Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania will make the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan and all EU Member States with the exception of Denmark.
  • date: 2019-02-18T00:00:00 type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament body: EP/CSL
  • date: 2019-02-18T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
  • date: 2019-02-22T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal summary: PURPOSE: to authorise Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Convention). NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2019/308 authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. CONTENT: under this Council Decision, Austria, Luxembourg and Romania are hereby authorised to accept, in the interest of the Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Convention). Austria, Luxembourg and Romania shall, no later than 19 February 2020, deposit a declaration of acceptance of the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention in the interest of the Union. The 1980 Hague Convention establishes, at the international level, a system of obligations and cooperation between Contracting States and between central authorities and aims to ensure the immediate return of wrongfully removed or retained children. All EU Member States are parties to the Convention. Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 (‘Brussels II bis’ Regulation) complements and reinforces the 1980 Hague Convention. It aims to protect children from the harmful effects of wrongful removal or retention and to establish procedures to ensure their prompt return to the state of their habitual residence, as well as to secure the protection of rights of access and rights of custody. The European Union has set as one of its aims the promotion of the protection of the rights of the child. Measures for the protection of children against wrongful removal or retention are an essential part of that policy. In this context, the Union encourages third States to accede to the 1980 Hague Convention and supports the proper implementation of the Convention. In its Opinion 1/13 of the Court of Justice of the European Union, it was stated that the exclusive competence of the European Union. The decision whether to accept the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan has to be taken at EU level by means of a Council Decision. Belarus deposited its instrument of accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on 12 January 1998. The 1980 Hague Convention entered into force for Belarus on 1 April 1998. T he 1980 Convention is already in force between these two third countries and 24 EU Member States. Austria, Luxembourg and Romania, consulted by the Commission, gave a favourable opinion on the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the Convention. The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania shall make the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan and all EU Member States except Denmark. The United Kingdom and Ireland are bound by the Brussels IIa Regulation and are therefore taking part in the adoption and application of this Decision. ENTRY INTO FORCE: the decision shall take effect on the day of its notification. docs: title: Decision 2019/308 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32019D0308 title: OJ L 051 22.02.2019, p. 0015 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2019:051:TOC
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  • PURPOSE: to authorise Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Convention).

    PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

    ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

    BACKGROUND: the 1980 Convention has been ratified by 98 countries including all EU Member States. Its purpose is to restore the status quo by means of the prompt return of wrongfully removed or retained children through a system of cooperation among central authorities appointed by its Contracting Parties.

    As the prevention of child abduction is an essential part of the EU policy to promote the rights of the child, the European Union is active at international level to improve the application of the 1980 Convention and encourages third States to accede it.

    The 1980 Convention stipulates that the Convention applies between the acceding country and such Contracting States as will have declared their acceptance of the accession.

    In its Opinion 1/13 of the Court of Justice of the European Union, it was stated that the exclusive competence of the European Union. The decision whether to accept the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan has to be taken at EU level by means of a Council Decision.

    Belarus and Uzbekistan deposited their accession instruments to the 1980 Convention on 12 January 1998 and 31 May 1999 respectively. The 1980 Convention is already in force between these two third countries and 24 EU Member States. Austria, Luxembourg and Romania, consulted by the Commission, gave a favourable opinion on the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the Convention.

    As regards parental abduction, the 1980 Convention is the international counterpart to Council Regulation No 2201/2003 (Brussels IIa Regulation), one of the main objectives of which is to discourage parents from abducting their children to another Member State by establishing procedures which ensure the immediate return of the child to the Member State of his or her habitual residence.

    14 Council Decisions have been already adopted between June 2015 and December 2017 in order to accept the accession to the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction of 20 third countries (Morocco, Singapore, the Russian Federation, Albania, Andorra, the Seychelles, Armenia, the Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, Peru, Georgia, South Africa, Chile, Iceland, the Bahamas, Panama, Uruguay, Colombia, El Salvador and San Marino).

    CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council adopt a decision authorising Austria, Luxembourg and Romania to accept, in the interest of the European Union, the accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan to the 1980 Hague Convention. The present proposal is evidently linked to the general objective enshrined in Article 3 of the Treaty on the European Union to protect the rights of the child.

    Austria, Luxembourg and Romania should submit their declarations of acceptance at the latest 12 months after the date of adoption of this Decision.

    The United Kingdom and Ireland are bound by the Brussels IIa Regulation and are therefore taking part in the adoption and application of this Decision.

    The acceptance of Austria, Luxembourg and Romania would render the 1980 Convention applicable between Belarus, Uzbekistan and all EU Member States except Denmark.

activities/1
date
2018-09-10T00:00:00
body
EP
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
committees
body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Legal Affairs committee: JURI
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
JURI/8/14026
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
Awaiting committee decision
activities/0/commission/0
DG
Commissioner
JOUROVÁ Věra
other/0
body
EC
dg
commissioner
JOUROVÁ Věra
activities
  • date: 2018-07-06T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2018/0530/COM_COM(2018)0530_EN.pdf title: COM(2018)0530 type: Legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52018PC0530:EN body: EC type: Legislative proposal published commission:
committees
  • body: EP responsible: True committee_full: Legal Affairs committee: JURI
links
other
    procedure
    legal_basis
    reference
    2018/0279(NLE)
    title
    Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980): accession of Belarus and Uzbekistan; acceptance by Austria, Luxembourg and Romania
    geographical_area
    stage_reached
    Preparatory phase in Parliament
    subtype
    Consultation of Parliament
    type
    NLE - Non-legislative enactments
    subject