HC Deb 02 December 1997 vol 302 cc122-3W
Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the precedents for bilateral agreements between an EU member state and the EU Presidency being concluded after the hearings at a summit. [18671]

Mr. Doug Henderson

At negotiations such as the IGC, it is not unusual for the Presidency to reach tentative understandings with a Member State on how to handle a point of key concern to them. But such understandings would normally be considered subsequently by the full meeting.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement on 25 November 1997,Official Report, column 754, when he was first informed of the bilateral agreement between Spain and the Dutch Presidency. [18669]

Mr. Doug Henderson

We first learned of the change to the text when we received a revised Treaty text after the Amsterdam summit on 19 June.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his oral statement of 25 November 1997, Official Report, column 754, when the bilateral agreement between Spain and the Dutch Presidency of the EU was concluded. [18668]

Mr. Doug Henderson

We believe that the text reflected discussions in the margins of the Amsterdam European Council on 16–17 June.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if another EU member state can block the UK acceding to the Schengen Acquis. [18672]

Mr. Doug Henderson

Unanimity is required where the UK and Ireland apply to take part in a measure within the existing Schengen Acquis. The Declaration on Article 4 of the Protocol, integrating the Schengen Acquis, makes provision for the Council to seek the opinion of the Commission before it decides on a request from the UK or Ireland to take part in some or all of the provisions of the Schengen Acquis. Other Member States also undertake to make their best efforts to allow the UK or Ireland to participate. The UK cannot be blocked from opting into proposals and initiatives which build upon the Schengen Acquis.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his oral statement of 25 November 1997,Official Report, column 754, what representations he made to the Presidency of the European Union about the bilateral agreement between Spain and the Dutch Presidency; and when. [18670]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The UK made a number of representations on this matter at Ministerial and official level.