HC Deb 23 January 1985 vol 71 cc981-2
41. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to press for an early meeting of European Economic Community Ministers with the newly appointed commissioner in Brussels to discuss ways and means of securing new institutional progress within the Community structure.

Mr. Rifkind

Discussion is already taking place in the Ad Hoc Committee on Institutions. The European Community Commission is represented on this committee by Mr. Ripa di Meana.

Mr. Dykes

Is my hon. Friend aware that I meant commissioners in the plural? As there is a need to press ahead with developments in the Community, and as the new Commission is beginning to make plenty of new suggestions, cannot the European Parliament and Commission, working together with the Council, achieve a new form of progress that will stand in contrast with the conflicts that have existed between those institutions in the past?

Mr. Rifkind

The Ad Hoc Committee on Institutions was appointed by the Heads of Government to look at this issue. A commissioner was appointed to it to ensure that the Commission's views would be fully taken into account in any recommendations made by the committee.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. We started these EEC questions one minute late, so I shall call one more question.