HC Deb 12 June 1997 vol 295 cc545-6W
Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the subject areas where the Dutch presidency have proposed replacing unanimity with qualified majority voting in Freedom, Security and Justice (SN 539/97 c 40); and the numbers of the articles and paragraphs in which these proposals are made. [1973]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The Treaty draft on an "area of freedom, security and justice" proposes a period of 3 years following the entry into force of the Treaty, during which unanimity should continue to apply to all subject areas currently covered by unanimity. On the expiry of this period, qualified majority voting would be extended to the following areas currently covered by unanimity:

Subject Article Paragraph
Internal borders B 1
External borders B 2a
Issuing of short term visas B 2b (ii) and (iv)
Freedom of travel within the EU for third country nationals B 3
Asylum policy and procedures C 1
Temporary protection for displaced persons C 2a
Illegal immigration and illegal residence C 3b
Judicial co-operation in civil matters having cross-border implications E
Administrative co-operation in areas covered by new Title F

Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the subject areas to which the Dutch presidency have proposed extending the co-decision procedure in Freedom, Security and Justice (SN 539/97 c 40); and the numbers of the articles and paragraphs in which these proposals are made. [1974]

Mr. Henderson

The draft Treaty text on an "area of freedom, security and justice" proposes a period of 3 years following the entry into force of the Treaty, during which consultation with the European Parliament, rather than co-decision, should continue to apply. The presidency continues to leave open the question of whether, on the expiry of this period, co-decision should apply to certain provisions of the Title.

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