§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the various areas of extension of qualified majority voting under the Amsterdam treaty. [5026]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe Presidency text on the extension of qualified majority voting (QMV) agreed at Amsterdam is below.
There will also be QMV for implementing decisions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy as provided for by Article J13. However a Member State may prevent a vote from being taken for important and stated reasons of national interest, whereupon the decision may be referred to the European Council for decision by unanimity.
349WThe flexibility provisions in Articles 5a and K12 are also subject to qualified majority voting. However a similar national veto mechanism applies. The new Articles B (2) (b) (i) and (iii) in the new chapter on free movement of persons, asylum and immigration shall also be subject to QMV. The UK will not be obliged to take part in cooperation under this chapter.
Qualified majority voting Area New Treaty provisions Article 4, new Title on Employment Employment guidelines Article 5, new Title on Employment Incentive measures Article 118(2) Social exclusion Article 119(3) Equality of opportunity and treatment of men and women Article 129(4) Public health Article 191a Transparency Article 209a Countering fraud Article 213a Statistics Article 213b Establishment of independent advisory authority on data protection Article 227(2) Outermost regions New Article Customs cooperation Existing Treaty provisions Article 45(3) Compensatory aid for imports of raw materials Article 56(2) Coordination of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action for special treatment for foreign nationals (right of establishment) Article 130i(1) Adoption of the research framework programme Article 130i(2) Adapting or supplementing the research framework programme Article 130o Setting up of joint undertakings in R&T development