Maastricht Treaty (Hansard, 12 June 1992)

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the maximum period of time that could be allowed for Danish ratification of the Maastricht treaty before the need for re-negotiation arose.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The Treaty of European Union does not provide for any time limit on ratification. Article R statesThis Treaty shall enter into force on 1 January 1993, provided that all the instruments of ratification have been deposited, or, failing that, on the first day of the month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification by the last signatory State to take this step.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek a re-negotiation of the Maastricht treaty if the Danish Government have not been able to proceed with ratification within one year.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The conclusions issued by European Community Foreign Ministers after their meeting in Oslo on 4 June statedMinisters noted that all eleven member states expressed their wish to see the European Union established by all member states. They exclude any reopening of the text signed at Maastricht.
We agreed that the door should be left open for Denmark. No time limit was set.

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances he would seek a re-negotiation of the Maastricht treaty.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The conclusions issued by European Community Foreign Ministers after their meeting in Oslo on 4 June statedMinisters noted that all eleven member states expressed their wish to see the European Union established by all member states. They exclude any reopening of the text signed at Maastricht.