§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what communication he has received from(a) the Commission of the European Community and (b) the Government of any of its member states concerning those matters of common interest listed in article K1 of the treaty on European Union; what proposals he has received for conventions under the provisions of article K3 2(c); and what (i) material and (ii) information he has published relating thereto. [8254]
§ Mr. HowardThe Commission, which has a limited right of initiative under article K3(2) of the treaty on European union, has issued three communications to the Council of Ministers concerning matters of common interest under article K1. These related to immigration and asylum policies, a European Union action plan to combat drugs and the possible application of article K9 of the treaty. The Commission has also submitted proposals for a Council decision establishing the convention on the crossing of the external frontiers of the member states and for a convention on the protection of the Communities' financial interests.
Member states enjoy the right to initiate action in all the areas of common interest listed in article K1 and regularly make proposals for specific measures or projects in the Justice and Home Affairs Council and its associated working groups. The Council of Ministers has adopted conventions on simplified extradition procedures, fraud, Europol and the customs information system. Draft instruments currently under negotiation by the member states include: the convention on external frontiers and the associated convention on the European information system; a second stage convention on simplified extradition procedures; and a convention on mutual recognition of driving disqualifications.
Any proposal or communication from the Commission to the Council of Ministers is deposited in Parliament. In accordance with the procedures for scrutiny of European Community documents, the Government publish an explanatory memorandum for each document deposited. Proposals arising from intergovernmental co-operation on justice and home affairs under title VI of the treaty are subject to the separate arrangements for Parliamentary scrutiny of work which apply to that title.