HL Deb 25 October 2000 vol 618 cc45-6WA
Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the state of play of the Corpus Juris project in the European Union; and what is their attitude to it. [HL4252]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by my honourable friend the Minister of State for the Home Department (Mr Clarke) in another place,Official Report, col. 51W, 15 May 2000).

A follow-up study to the original Corpus Juris paper has been published. Having studied the potential impact of the original Corpus Juris proposals on the national law of each of the member states, the authors proposed a number of changes designed to meet some of the criticisms which had been expressed. Key elements of the original Corpus Juris paper—in particular the creation of a European Public Prosecutor—have been retained, but there are a number of changes in the proposals concerning substantive law and procedure. The Government remain unconvinced of the need for a European Public Prosecutor.