§ Mr. Michael BrownTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what statutory provisions prevent the United Kingdom from unilaterally withdrawing from the common agricultural and common fisheries policies without withdrawing from the European Commission. [9581]
§ Mr. BaldryThe principles and objectives of the common agricultural policy and common fisheries policy are to be found in articles 38 to 46 of the EC treaty. By virtue of article N of the treaty on European Union, amendments to the EC treaty can be made only by unanimity. This effectively prevents the UK unilaterally withdrawing from these policies even if it were in our interests to do so.