§ Mr. LordTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report a statement on the outcome of the ministerial meeting of the inter-governmental conference on political union on 13 and 14 May.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I attended the ministerial meeting of the inter-governmental conference on political union on 13 and 14 May. The meeting discussed presidency proposals on social policy, cohesion and European citizenship.
In discussion on social policy my right hon. Friend stressed that in the United Kingdom's view the existing treaty struck a just balance between the scope for Community action and the diversity of national practices and customs and that we saw no need for any change.
Spain, supported by other southern member states, argued that further measures to promote cohesion were necessary as the Community embarked on a new stage of political and economic integration. We, together with other northern member states, took the view that the IGC was not an appropriate forum to open a discussion on financial and budgetary issues, which would be raised in the context of next year's review of Community finances.
In the discussion on citizenship, many member states expressed the view that any new text should go no further on rights of free movement and residence than existing legal provisions. We made it clear that there should be no question of any concept of European citizenship cutting across member states' own nationality legislation.
Discussion of these and other aspects of the inter-governmental conference on political union will continue at future meetings of special representatives and Ministers. A further ministerial session will be held on 17–18 June. The inter-governmental conference will be on the agenda of the European Council to be held on 28 and 29 June.