§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether vital interests within the terms of the Luxembourg compromise were at stake in the issue of 23 or 27 vote at the Ioannina meeting.
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§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe Luxembourg compromise was not applicable to the issue of 23 or 27 votes at the Ionnina meeting. The Luxembourg compromise refers to the case of
decisions which may be taken by majority vote".
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Luxembourg compromise enables Britain to prevent a decision being made in any case which is vital to Britain's interests and where qualified majority voting applies.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryIf the United Kingdom believed that, on an issue of very important national interest, it was in danger of being outvoted because qualified majority voting applied, it could invoke the Luxembourg compromise. In accordance with this, the members of the Council would then continue discussion until agreement was reached on a solution which could be adopted by all member states.