HC Deb 11 January 1993 vol 216 cc553-4W
Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Prime Minister if section A (Citizenship) on page 5 B of part B of the "Conclusions of the Presidency" in Edinburgh was designed by the Council to apply to all member states.

The Prime Minister

The section referred to by the hon. Member was designed to meet Danish concerns but it represents an interpretation of the provisions of the Maastricht treaty relating to citizenship of the union which was agreed by all member states and is true for all of them.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Prime Minister what procedures he proposes for ratification of the intergovernmental agreement reached at Edinburgh on Danish qualifications to the Maastricht treaty.

The Prime Minister

The decision does not require ratification.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on how Her Majesty's Government propose to implement the decision set out at paragraph 7 of the Edinburgh declaration on the conclusions of the United Kingdom presidency of the European Council to increase public investment in decision-making.

The Prime Minister

The United Kingdom will work closely with other members of the Council, the Commission and Parliament to ensure that the measures on transparency agreed in Edinburgh are put into practice as soon as possible.

Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Prime Minister why the European Council in Edinburgh concluded that there should be no increase in the provision of loan guarantees between 1993 and 1999; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister

The Edinburgh European Council endorsed the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council in October that the Community's growing international responsibilities had led to an increase in the level and scope of lending to non-member states backed by guarantees on the EC budget, and that considerations of prudent budgetary management and financial discipline called for the establishment of a new financial framework, including an appropriate form of provisioning. The European Council accordingly agreed that a guarantee fund should be established, with a target size of 10 per cent. of the Community's outstanding liabilities arising from external loans and guarantees; and that this should be financed by a reserve in the financial perspective not exceeding 300 million ECU in each year from 1993 to 1999 (in 1992 prices), from which payments would be made into the fund in proportion to the value of new loans agreed. This framework will be sufficient to allow continuing significant levels of new lending to non-member states guaranteed on the EC budget.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Prime Minister if he will give the names of the persons signing their names as plenipotentiary of each relevant state to the intergovernmental decision relating to Denmark at the European Council meeting in Edinburgh.

The Prime Minister

The decision relating to Denmark was not signed. This does not affect its character as an agreement binding in international law between the parties to the treaty on European union on how certain of its provisions are to be interpreted and applied.