§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if the Government will delay ratification of the Nice treaty until the Republic of Ireland can ratify the treaty; [2204]
(2) what assessment he has made of the implications of the outcome of the Irish referendum on the future of the Nice treaty. [2208]
§ Peter HainI refer to the right hon. Gentleman to my answer of 28 June 2001,Official Report, column 167W.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the clauses in the treaty of Nice which are essential to EU enlargement. [2207]
§ Peter HainThe Nice treaty as a whole is essential for enlargement. The enlarged EU we want cannot work effectively without the changes that Nice makes to the EU's institutions and procedures. All member states are agreed that Nice opens the way for enlargement, and that,106W with the entry into force of the treaty, the EU will have completed the institutional changes necessary for the accession of new member states.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the future of the Nice treaty of one member state's inability to ratify it. [2205]
§ Peter HainIn order for the treaty of Nice to enter into force it must be ratified by all 15 member states in accordance with their constitutional requirements.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to hold a referendum on UK ratification of the Nice treaty following the Irish referendum. [2209]
§ Peter HainThe treaty of Nice can come into force only if it is ratified by all member states in accordance with their own constitutional requirements. In the UK, this means that Parliament must pass legislation to amend the European Communities Act 1972. Parliament will decide whether or not to accept the Nice treaty, as it did for the Single European Act, Maastricht and Amsterdam.