Decision-taking Processes

HC Deb 28 June 1978 vol 952 cc1386-8

48. Mr. Michael Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what improvements he intends to press for in the decision-taking processes of the European Community, particularly for coping with the problems of reaching agreement in an enlarged Community.

Dr. Owen

I shall continue to press in particular for improvements in the control and organisation of Council business, so that issues can be resolved after discussion and consultation and with full democratic control.

Mr. Stewart

Does my right hon. Friend favour the increased use of majority voting in the Council of Ministers?

Dr. Owen

I doubt whether it is necessary. What we are seeing is a form of informal majority voting, which has been building up steadily and persistently over the years, when a country which finds itself in a minority on an issue not of fundamental importance is prepared to concede or compromise. Were we to formalise the voting system, I believe that we would find it much harder to achieve the compromise which is necessary for the Community to work effi- ciently and effectively. It is the British position that there is already in existence an effective majority voting system, that it is not necessary to formalise it and that it is necessary to maintain the spirit of the Luxembourg compromise.

Mr. Stokes

Does the Foreign Secretary agree with the suggestion of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition that there should be the closest cooperation between the EEC and NATO?

Dr. Owen

The two organisations have different functions, and one countryIreland—is not a member of NATO. It is very important to recognise that Spain, for example, which is applying to join the EEC, has not yet resolved the controversial issue of membership of NATO. Also, Greece has a different relationship with NATO—it is not a full member. A distinction is also made in France. Therefore, I believe that we would be unwise to adopt a position where membership of the EEC was in any way formally linked with membership of NATO. We should see them as two distinct organisations which have, on many occasions, common interests.

Mr. Roper

Can there be any improved co-ordination between the various specialised Councils of Ministers and the Council of Foreign Ministers?

Dr. Owen

Yes, I think that there can be. There has been a movement away from believing that the Foreign Affairs Council is the only Council to make decisions inside the European Community. I believe that that is inevitable and right as the complexity of business increases. It is necessary to have specialised bodies because there are some areas where policy cannot be parcelled conveniently. An example of this is competition policy, which has very grave consequences for employment. In such cases there should he better co-ordination.