HL Deb 03 December 1992 vol 540 cc101-2WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the reply of Earl Ferrers (HL Deb., 16th November, col. WA 37), when they expect a unanimous decision to be taken to implement those provisions of the Treaty of European Union which provide that decisions which third country nationals will require visas to enter the United Kingdom will fall to be decided by majority voting in the Council of Ministers.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

Article 100c, to be inserted in the Treaty of Rome by the Treaty on European Union, will come into force once all 12 member states of the European Communities have ratified the treaty. The provision in paragraph 3 for qualified majority voting will then come into effect on 1st January 1996.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the reply of Earl Ferrers (H.L. Deb., 16th November, col. WA 37), whether Article 100c(2) of the Treaty of European Union which provided in an emergency situation for the Council of Ministers to decide by majority voting which third country nationals will require visas to enter the United Kingdom, can be implemented without a decision first being taken unanimously.

Earl Ferrers

When the Treaty on European Union comes into force, Article 100c(2) of the Treaty of Rome will provide that, in an emergency which threatens a sudden inflow of nationals from a particular country into the Community, the Council of Ministers may decide by qualified majority voting to impose a temporary visa requirement on nationals of that country. A unanimous decision is not required before Article 100c(2) may be invoked. If this temporary requirement is to be extended, though, it must be in accordance with Article 100c(1), which requires unanimity until 1st January 1996.