HL Deb 26 March 1996 vol 570 cc125-6WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they agree with the report of the Select Committee on the European Communities on the 1996 Inter-Governmental Conference, paragraph 282, that there is, at present, no suitable tribunal available apart from the European Court of Justice which could sensibly be given the task of interpreting and applying conventions drawn up within the Justice and Home Affairs Pillar.

Lord Chesham

Article K.3.2(c) provides that "[Third Pillar] conventions may stipulate that the Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction to interpret their provisions and to rule on any disputes regarding their application, in accordance with such arrangements as they may lay down". For some conventions there may be no need to specify any tribunal, relying on national courts, or other fora.