§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were taken to ensure the people and Government of Gibraltar will enjoy the same or comparable citizenship, rights, liabilities and other opportunities that are extended to the people of 429W the Aland Islands under the provisions of the treaty of accession to the European Union and which are consequent upon Finland acceding to be European Union; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe EC treaty applies to Gibraltar by virtue of article 227.4 of the treaty. It enjoys a special status within the Community negotiated at the time of United Kingdom accession. The common agricultural and fisheries policies do not apply to Gibraltar. Nor is Gibraltar obliged to levy VAT. In addition, Gibraltar is outside the Community customs territory and is a third country for the purpose of the common regime for imports. Community rules on the free movement of goods do not apply to Gibraltar.
Article 28 of the Act of Accession provides that the EC treaties shall not apply to the Aland Islands unless the Finnish Government so declare, in which case their relationship to the Community will be governed by protocol 2 to the Act of Accession. The differences between the position of the Aland Islands and that of Gibraltar would reflect their different interests within the Community and the different nature of their relationship with the member state.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the people of the Aland Islands and of Svalbard will be represented in the European Parliament upon the accession of Finland and Norway to the European Union.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThis is a matter for the Governments of Finland and Norway respectively. We understand that arrangements for the representation of Norwegian residents on Svalbard and of the people of the Aland Islands in the European Parliament have yet to be decided.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the people of Svalbard will become citizens of the European Union consequent upon Norway acceding to the European Union; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryNorwegian citizens who live on Svalbard will become citizens of the European Union on Norway's accession to the European Union. Svalbard itself will be excluded from the scope of the European Union treaties in accordance with protocol No. 7 of the accession treaty.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the expected cost and consequences to(a) the Commission, (b) the Parliament, (c) the Court of Justice and (d) other European Union institutions of both Bokmal and Nynorsk being given equal status as official languages of the institutions of the European Union's communities and institutions consequent upon the accession of Norway to the European Union.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThere are no proposals to make Bokmal or Nynorsk official languages of the Union. Section XVIII of annex I of the Act of Accession, annexed to the accession treaty, will amend Council regulation 1 to include only Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish as new official languages subsequent to the entry into force of the treaty. The Kingdom of Norway has made a unilateral declaration—No. 38—stating that430W
in the written use of Norwegian as an official language…equal status must be given to Bokmal and Nynorsk".This declaration has no budgetary implications.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the consequences to(a) the European Union and (b) the United Kingdom of the declaration by the King of Sweden on open government and which are incorporated in the treaty of accession to the European Union and consequent upon Sweden acceding to the European Union.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmorySweden's declaration in the Final Act attached to the accession treaty welcomes the development now taking place in the European Union towards greater openness and transparency. The declaration notes that open government is a fundamental part of Sweden's constitutional, political and cultural heritage. The Union's declaration in response takes note of the Swedish declaration and adds that the member states of the European Union take it for granted that, as a member, Sweden will fully comply with Community law.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the consequences for(a) The European Union and (b) the United Kingdom of the exchange of letters between the Kingdom of Sweden and the European Commission together with the assurances given, with regard to Swedish practices in the labour market and collective agreements, which are incorporated in the treaty of accession to the European Union.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe exchange of letters between the Kingdom of Sweden and the Commission are mentioned in a declaration by Sweden annexed to the Final Act. The Final Act does not form part of the treaty of accession and the declarations annexed to it do not create binding legal obligations. There are no consequences either for the European Union or for the United Kingdom of the assurances given in the exchange of letters, which simply confirm that Swedish practices in labour market matters are compatible with the agreement of the Eleven.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the citizenship rights of the Sami people consequent upon the accession of Norway, Sweden and Finland to the European Union; and what special provisions have been made for their interests to be represented in the European Parliament and promoted in other European Union institutions.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryAs citizens of Norway, Sweden and Finland, the Sami people will become citizens of the European Union on the accession of these states to the European Union. No special provisions have been made for their representation in the European Parliament, but their interests are recognised in protocol No. 3 of the accession treaty. Norway also made a declaration on the subject.