HC Deb 24 November 1997 vol 301 cc402-3W
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, if the European Union decided to refrain from taking any military action against Iraq, with the United Kingdom abstaining from that decision under Article 1 (10) (J.13) of the Amsterdam Treaty, the United Kingdom would be prevented by the provisions of that treaty from committing United Kingdom forces or otherwise acting in support of any military action taken against Iraq by the United States of America. [17256]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The European Union does not take military action. The hypothetical scenario in the hon. Member's question could therefore not arise.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in relation to Article 1 (10) (J.13) of the Treaty of Amsterdam, whether, if a member state voted for the adoption of a foreign policy stance, requiring unanimity, but voted against a particular implementation of that policy requiring qualified majority voting, that member state would be precluded from taking unilateral action in a way contrary to the implementation agreed by qualified majority voting. [17258]

Mr. Doug Henderson

Member States are bound by implementing decisions taken in accordance with Article J. 13.2. If a Member State has difficulties with a proposed implementing decision, such that it would contemplate taking unilateral contrary action, it can prevent the adoption of the decision by invoking the "emergency brake" provisions in Article J.13.2 second paragraph.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in relation to Article 1 (10) (J.13) of the Treaty of Amsterdam, whether, if a member state abstained from a decision and the European Union apart from that state adopted a foreign policy and acted upon it, the abstaining member state is prevented from taking unilateral action in relation to that foreign policy. [17257]

Mr. Doug Henderson

A Member State which abstains from a CFSP decision requiring unanimity is not prevented from taking unilateral action in relation to the policy concerned. But it is required to refrain from any action likely to conflict with or impede Union action based on that decision. Any Member State can block rather than abstain from a CFSP decision likely to conflict with its interests.