§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 June 1999,Official Report, column 255, relating to the publication of the Stability Pact for South East Europe, on which treaty article it is based; if it requires further European Union legislation for its operation; and what is the basis of the term pact being introduced into the affairs of the European Union and Community. [88682]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe EU agreed a Common Position on 17 May, the legal basis of which is article 15 of the Treaty on European Union, setting out the general objectives for the Stability Pact initiative. The Stability Pact for South East Europe, approved by the participants' Foreign Ministers on 10 June, is not itself a legal instrument of the European Union, although the European Union will play the leading role within the initiative. In the light of this, there may be a requirement for a Joint Action to meet future operational costs. There is no generic basis for the use within the EU of the term pact.