Treaty of Rome

HC Deb 10 January 1977 vol 923 c381W

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his oral reply on 22nd December, he will list in the Official Report the occasions when specific articles of the Treaty of Rome have not been adhered to.

Dr. Owen

In my oral reply on 22nd December I referred to departures from literal interpretations of the treaty. Apart from breaches which may have been the subject of infraction proceedings, there have of course been since 1958 numerous derogations from the specific provisions of the treaty. Moreover, the deadlines fixed in the treaty for the progressive implementation of the Common Market were not always observed. Since many of these issues are ones which rely on a subjective interpretation, no comprehensive list could be compiled.