§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which current treaties of the European Union relate to the proposals in the draft constitutional treaty for (a) a full-time President of the European Council; and (b) the appointment of a Minister for Foreign Affairs. [HL5032]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanNone. Both are new appointments, but their function will correspond to existing functions of (a) the rotating President of the European Council, and (b) the Commissioner for External Relations and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether their opinion that the adoption of the draft constitutional treaty for the European Union would not alter the fundamental constitutional relationship between the European Union and its member states (Cm 5897) is consistent with the innovations proposed in the draft treaty, such as a full-time President of the European Council, the appointment of a Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the extension of Qualified Majority voting. [HL5033]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Government do not believe that the proposals contained in the draft European Union constitutional treaty will lead to fundamental changes in the relationship between the EU and the member states, or alter the position of the member states as the fundamental basis of the Union.
A full-time chair of both the European Council and a "Union Minister for Foreign Affairs" would be new appointments, but their functions will correspond to existing functions of (a) the rotating President of the European Council, and (b) the Commissioner for External Relations and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The Government support the promotion of qualified majority voting as the general rule for legislative proposals. But the Government will insist: that unanimity remains for treaty change, and in other areas of vital national interest.