HC Deb 06 March 1991 vol 187 cc203-4W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report a statement on the outcome of the ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union on 4 March.

Mr. Hurd

The ministerial meeting of the intergovernmental conference on political union on 4 March, which my hon. Friend the Minister of State and I attended, discussed democratic legitimacy and the powers of the European Parliament. Both democratic legitimacy and a common foreign and security policy were also discussed at an inter-institutional conference between the European Parliament and the member states on 5 March.

At the IGC, my hon. Friend the Minister of State took the opportunity to emphasise the importance we attach to the role of national Parliaments. Following consultation on both sides of this House and in another place, he outlined ideas for recognising the role played by national Parliaments and reinforcing the links between them and the European Parliament.

The Minister of State suggested a recognition of the importance of national scrutiny procedures for EC legislation and the desirability of encouraging their application in all member states; an undertaking that Council procedures should provide adequate opportunity for national scrutiny in advance of final decisions; improving the flow of Information about Community business to national Parliaments; encouraging closer contacts between European and national Parliaments.

Foreign Ministers will consider common foreign and security policy in detail later this month. The United Kingdom has put forward proposals on this, building on the success of European political co-operation and the provisions of title III of the Single European Act. Our proposals would strengthen the obligation on the Twelve to formulate and implement a common foreign and security policy.

In the increasing number of areas where our interests converge, the Twelve should play a more active role on the international scene, but member states should not be obliged to accept policies contrary to their national interests. We are therefore insisting on retention of the principle of consensus.

Our proposals also set out the Twelve's relationship with NATO and the Western European Union. We favour intensifying discussion among the Twelve on security issues such as non-proliferation. We also think it right that Europe should take on greater responsibility for its own defence, but without in any way undermining the collective security provided by NATO and the WEU. The mutual defence commitments undertaken in these organisations will continue to make an essential contribution to Europe's security. We believe the right way forward to be through strengthening the WEU which, by developing links with the Twelve, can act as a bridge between the Twelve and NATO. We do not envisage the Twelve taking on a defence role.

Finally, our proposals would improve the efficiency and speed of the machinery by which the Twelve conduct foreign and security policy.