§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 22 March.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I attended the Foreign Affairs Council held in Brussels on 22 March.
The Council discussed the qualified majority voting arrangements which will apply once the EFTAn applications have joined the European Union. We again emphasised the need to ensure the adequate protection of significant minorities in the Council and the democratic legitimacy of Community decision-making. Our Spanish colleagues supported us. Other Ministers continued to argue that the qualified majority should be kept constant as a proportion of the total number of votes after enlargement. It was not possible to find a solution to this question. The matter will probably be discussed again at the informal Foreign Affairs Council on 26–27 March.
The number of seats on the European investment bank management committee after enlargement was also discussed, but no agreement reached.
The Council reached agreement on the remaining non-institutional aspects of the accession negotiations. Political agreement was reached on a declaration on less-favoured area coverage for Finland and Swedish access to Baltic cod.
479WThere were no formal votes.