§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, following the recent European Court decision, Her Majesty's Government propose to make an estimate of the156W additional cost of locating the activities of the European Parliament in three centres at Luxembourg, Brussels and Strasbourg, as against Brussels only.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNo. Any change to existing arrangements would, under the EC treaties, require the unanimous agreement of the Governments of the member states. Such unanimity appears unlikely in the foreseeable future.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, following the recent European Court decision, the Government intends to raise at an early Council meeting the subject of the seat of the European Parliament.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNo. The recent European Court of Justice ruling does not alter the fact that under the EC treaty the permanent seats of the institutions are to be determined by common accord of the Governments of the member states—that is, unanimity. Such unanimity is unlikely in the foreseeable future.