Common Foreign and Security Policy

HC Deb 18 July 1997 vol 298 cc362-3W

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas under common foreign and security policy which will operate under qualified majority voting. [9082]

Mr. Doug Henderson

Under the common foreign and security policy provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty, the Council will act by qualified majority when taking decisions on the basis of common strategies adopted unanimously by the European Council; and when adopting decisions implementing joint actions or common positions. Any Member State may, however, prevent such a vote being taken for important and stated reasons of national policy. In these circumstances the matter may be referred to the European Council for decision by unanimity. Qualified majority voting will not apply to decisions having military or defence implications.