§ Lord Shore of Stepneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to Article 190(4) of the European Union treaty on elections to the European Parliament and to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 1.5 July (WA 55), whether, now that the Treaty of Amsterdam is in force, the European Parliament has submitted a formal proposal to the Council of Ministers concerning the adoption of common principles for European parliamentary elections; whether decisions on these proposals are to be made in the Council by qualified majority vote or by unanimity; and what are the Government's intentions with regard to debating these matters in Parliament before any decision is taken. [HL38]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe European Parliament adopted a proposal on common principles for European parliamentary elections on 15 July 1998 in anticipation of the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam. The Parliament and the Council will in due course agree a joint text in accordance with Article 190(4) of the treaty. Any decision on the Parliament's proposal will require the unanimous approval of the Council. The Government will be depositing an explanatory memorandum with the European Communities Committee and with the European Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons in accordance with the requirements for parliamentary scrutiny.