HC Deb 15 January 1976 vol 903 cc237-8W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will tabulate the procedural and constitutional steps required, both within and outside the ambit of EEC procedures, to implement the recommendations of the Tindemans Report in respect of (a) changes that require no amendment of the treaties and (b) changes that do require treaty amendments.

Mr. Hattersley

Before any question of implementation arises there will need to be the most careful examination at national and Community levels of the recommendations Mr. Tindemans has made.

Matters falling within the ambit of the treaties but not requiring treaty amendment would in general require decisions by the Council, in many cases on the basis of proposals by the Commission. Such proposals would be subject to the normal scrutiny procedures. Other matters, not requiring Commission proposals, would be subject to governmental decision and to negotiation, taking account of the views of Parliament. Changes requiring treaty amendment would be subject to Article 236 of the EEC Treaty, and to the usual ratification procedures of the member States.

In a number of instances the means of implementation would depend on the view which member Governments take of the substance of the proposals and cannot be specified in advance.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrangements made for the release of the text of the Tindemans Report both in London and Brussels in respect of times and translations; what copies were generally available to the Press, Members of Parliament and public, in London; and when and by whom they were released.

Mr. Hattersley

At a Press conference in Brussels on 7th January Mr. Tindemans released the authoritative French and Dutch versions of his Report together with unofficial versions in the other Community languages provided by the member Governments concerned—except the Danish version, which was prepared by the Commission. These included a preliminary English translation, which was also made available to the Press in London on 7th January by the News Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Copies of a slightly revised translation were placed in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office on 12th January. The Belgian Government plan to print an English edition of the Report to be made available to the public as soon as possible. The Commission also intends to publish the Report as a supplement to its Monthly Bulletin.