World affairs Archives

Research Briefing

Cuba and the United States – how close can they get?

Tuesday, 18 August, 2015

Since December 2014, when the Presidents of the US and Cuba announced the beginning of a rapprochement, there have been developments on both sides. The US has eased travel and commerce restrictions; in April the two leaders met in person and in May 2015 the US officially lifted its designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. In July both countries opened embassies in the other country. But much remains to be done before relations can be considered 'normal' and it is far from clear how close the two countries will get. This note looks at what has happened so far and obstacles to be overcome.
Research Briefing

Karenzi Karake and UK-Rwanda relations

Monday, 20 July, 2015

In June 2015, Karenzi Karake was arrested at Heathrow airport under a European Arrest Warrant issued by a Spanish judge in connection with war crimes allegedly committed by the Rwandan Patriotic Front in Rwanda between 1990 and 2000. A full hearing in the Magistrates Court on whether he should be extradited to Spain to stand trial is expected in late October. The case has sparked much controversy and debate, including about the UK-Rwanda relationship.
Research Briefing

The 1974-75 UK Renegotiation of EEC Membership and Referendum

Monday, 13 July, 2015

Why did the UK Government decide to renegotiate the UK's terms of EEC membership in 1974-75? What was the outcome of the negotiations and what did the Referendum Bill say? This briefing looks at the Labour Government's renegotiation and indicates where there are parallels with the present Government's renegotiation agenda.
Insight

RAF kill an estimated 242 enemy combatants in Iraq

Friday, 10 July, 2015
Research Briefing

European banking union

Monday, 29 June, 2015

This note brings together the main documents and developments regarding the EU's pan-Community supervisory and recovery mechanism for members’ banking sectors - the Banking Union. Significant new measures were approved of in December 2013 it faces a severe test in respect to Greece in 2015..
Research Briefing

European Union (Finance) Bill 2015-16

Thursday, 18 June, 2015

The Commons Library's briefing note on the European Union (Finance) Bill 2015-16.
Research Briefing

Measures to limit migrants’ access to benefits

Wednesday, 17 June, 2015

Following an article by the Prime Minister’s in the Financial Times on 27 November 2013 in which he said he shared concerns about the impact of lifting transitional restrictions on the right of Romanian and Bulgarian right to work in the UK from 1 January 2014, the Government has introduced a raft of measures “to tighten up our EEA migration rules to ensure our welfare system is not taken advantage of.”
Research Briefing

EU Treaty change: the parliamentary process of bills

Monday, 15 June, 2015

How does Parliament deal with EU Treaty amendments? Is primary legislation needed to implement them? This briefing looks at the parliamentary process of bills linked to the ratification of EU Treaty amendments and compares the amount of time spent on the major EU Treaties since the UK joined the European Economic Community in 1973.
Research Briefing

Communications Data: The 2012 draft Bill and recent developments

Friday, 12 June, 2015

A draft Communications Data Bill was introduced and scrutinised by Parliament in 2012-13. The draft Bill, referred to by critics as a “snooper’s charter”, was not taken forward, following opposition from the Liberal Democrats. The Queen's Speech in 2015 promised an Investigatory Powers Bill, which is expected to replicate features of the earlier draft Bill.
Research Briefing

Turkey’s 2015 elections: a change of direction?

Wednesday, 10 June, 2015

What's next for Turkey? The AKP has lost power after 13 years in government, following a surge in support for the Kurdish HDP. Coalition negotiations may be underway, but fresh elections loom, and the uncertainty is likely to damage Turkey.
Research Briefing

Comparative Prison Sentences in the EU

Monday, 08 June, 2015

This briefing provides a downloadable tool which allows the user to make a graphical comparison of unsuspended custodial sentences for like crimes across the EU. Two countries may be selected for comparison of nine different offence types, with graphs showing the percentage of custodial sanctions awarded by sentence length.
Insight

Do sanctions work?

Monday, 08 June, 2015
- Insight
- Defence policy
Research Briefing

Do sanctions work?

Friday, 05 June, 2015

There are now many analysts who argue that sanctions do work, partly because of their increasingly sophisticated design. However, evidence remains mixed at best. Politicians may be finding them useful for other things than their stated aim of causing 'rogue' countries to choose a different policy
Research Briefing

Iraq: calls for an inquiry and historical precedents

Thursday, 04 June, 2015

There were repeated calls for an inquiry into the 2003 invasion of Iraq from 2003 until the announcement of the Chilcot Inquiry in 2009
Research Briefing

European Union Referendum Bill 2015-16

Wednesday, 03 June, 2015

The European Union Referendum Bill 2015-16 requires the holding of a referendum on the UK’s EU membership before the end of 2017. This paper provides information about the provisions in the Bill.

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