§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What new arrangements or extensions of existing arrangements were contained in the Treaty of Amsterdam relating to inter-governmental co-operation in the fields of defence, foreign affairs and police and judicial matters. [HL2073]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Treaty provides for a new arrangement to make the Common Foreign and Security Policy more operational and effective, including, amongst others, by the appointment of a High Representative for foreign and security policy; the provision of a Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit; and by the introduction of some limited new decision-taking procedures.
The Treaty ensures that police and criminal judicial co-operation will continue to be dealt with under the third pillar. It also introduces a new Free Movement Title (Title IV, TEC) which brings within the EC framework provisions for civil judicial co-operation. By virtue of a separate protocol the United Kingdom will only be bound by measures adopted under this Title where we so choose.