§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each of the articles of each of the core treaties and related protocols of the European(a) Community and (b) Union in force which were (i) approved as being subject to consequential parliamentary legislative proceedings and (ii) accepted and executed by Crown prerogative following advice from Ministers. [113437]
§ Mr. MacShaneBefore the UK acceded to the European Communities in 1973, Parliament passed the European Communities Act 1972 in order that the United Kingdom's obligations under the Communities' founding treaties could be fulfilled. Subsequent amendments to the treaty structure have, in accordance with the treaties themselves, been agreed by the common accord of the governments of the member states. Amendments then enter into force after being ratified by all the member states in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. In the United Kingdom, an amending treaty must be laid before Parliament, and any necessary amendments to the European Communities Act 1972 passed by Parliament, before it can be ratified under the Crown prerogative.