Treaty on European Union (Hansard, 11 May 1992)

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who decides disputes about the interpretation of the translation of the text of the treaty on European union.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
The treaty makes it clear (article S) that the text in each of the Community languages is "equally authentic". Disputes about the texts are for the parties to resolve among themselves. Where they concern areas of the treaty within the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice they may ultimately be referred to it for decision.

§ Mr. Spearing
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he published or intends to publish, the text of the treaty on European union; and if he intends to also publish any explanatory guide or other descriptions of its provisions and implications.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
The text of the treaty on European union was published as a Command Paper (Cm 1934) on 7 May. Further information on its provisions is contained in memoranda submitted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Her Majesty's Treasury to the Foreign Affairs and Treasury and Civil Service Committees respectively. Copies are available in the Library.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the provisions of article 7a as referred to in the revised article 100a(i) in paragraph (22) of article G of the Maastricht treaty; and if he will indicate where article 7a is located in the various European Community treaties.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
Under paragraph 9 of article G of the treaty on European union the present article 8a of the treaty of Rome becomes article 7a (and articles 8b and 8c become 7b and 7c). Present article 8a was added to the treaty of Rome by article 13 of section II of the Single European Act.
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Article 7a states: The Community shall adopt measures with the aim of progressively establishing the internal market over a period expiring on 31 December 1992, in accordance with the provisions of this article and of Articles 7b, 7c, 28, 57(2), 59, 70(1), 84, 99, 100a and 100b and without prejudice to the other provisions of this Treaty. The internal market shall comprise an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty".

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the treaty on European union he signed at Maastricht on 7 February is the text circulating in Conf-UP-U-EM 2002/1/92; in what language was the version he signed; who translated it into English; what check his officials made of the accuracy of that translation; and when an accurate text will be provided in Parliament and published.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
The Treaty signed at Maastricht was subsequently circulated as CONF-UP-UEM 2002/1/92. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs signed a version in English translated by European Community linguists. Officials and FCO translators were fully involved in meetings with linguists before 7 February to finalise the texts. The text as signed was made available to Parliament immediately thereafter and was published as a Command Paper on 7 May.

§ Mr. Spearing
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has in his possession a copy of the proposed treaty of Rome as it would be following ratification of the treaty of European union.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
There is not yet an official publication of the treaty of Rome as amended by the treaty on European Union. The treaty on European union has been printed as a Command Paper (Cm 1934).

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what enactment article 100A(i) of the treaty of Rome, which is to be replaced in accordance with paragraph 22 of article G of the Maastricht treaty, was inserted in the treaty.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
Article 100a was added to the treaty of Rome by article 18 of the Single European Act which came into force on 1 July 1987.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the text of the treaty of Rome used as a basis for the amendments to that treaty in the treaty of European union is the same as the text of the treaty of Rome issued in September 1988 by HMSO as Cm 455.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
Yes.