§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Prime Minister if she will invite the next meeting of the European Council to agree that the Commission should not present measures to 137W implement the provisions of the social charter until the charter has been agreed by all member states; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe European Commission has the right to make proposals on any matters that fall within the competence of the Community as set out in the treaty of Rome. As I made clear in my statement following the last meeting of the European Council in Strasbourg in December—Official Report, 12 December 1989, column 858—we do not endorse the text of the social charter and, judging from their comments, I believe that many of my colleagues in Europe will have considerable difficulties with the Commission's specific proposals when they come forward.