HC Deb 27 June 1984 vol 62 cc988-9
66. Mr. Proctor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions there have been between Ministers in his Department and other European Economic Community Governments on the Spinelli report on European union.

Mr. Rifkind

None, Sir.

Mr. Proctor

Will my hon. Friend make it clear to EC Governments that the British Government do not support any further loss of sovereignity, as would be initiated by acceptance of the Spinelli report on European union, and will not be pushed into a steady slide towards federalism, which is inspired by Communists?

Mr. Rifkind

Although there are some aspects of the Spinelli report to which we do not object, we have made it clear that there are some proposals which we cannot support. I draw special attention to the proposal to phase out the national veto after 10 years and the proposal to increase the powers of the European Parliament. We have made it clear that those are the two main recommendations which we cannot support.

Mr. Aitken

As the Foreign Secretary made some mildly approving noises about such bizarre concepts as a European flag, a European national anthem and a European honours list, will my hon. Friend in mind that those aspects of a possible European union would be anathema to the vast majority of British people?

Mr. Rifkind

Naturally we are prepared to listen carefully to ideas which would be in the interests of the European community as a whole. We have always made it clear that the primary interest of the United Kingdom is to concentrate on practical issues, and practical areas of harmonisation, which would bring undoubted benefit to the people of Britain and to the Community.

Mr. Maclennan

Is the Minister aware that in setting his face against the increase in the powers of the European Parliament he is setting his face against the countless European candidates fielded by his party, who have been calling for an increase in the powers of the European Parliament?

Mr. Rifkind

The hon. Gentleman is not correct. All of the Conservative candidates for the European elections, including the successful Conservative candidates, fought under the Conservative party manifesto, which makes the views of the Conservative party exceedingly clear.

Mr. Robin Cook

Will the Minister amplify that reply and tell us whether his comments apply to the 16 recently elected Conservative Members of the European Parliament, who during the last Parliament voted for the Spinelli report?

Mr. Rifkind

I am aware that there was a free vote in the European Parliament on that matter. A minority of Conservative Members may well have taken a different view on that issue, but at least they do not belong to the Labour group in that Parliament, the vast majority of whose new Members do not even support our membership of the European Community. They were elected under false pretences, as the hon. Gentleman knows.