§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the answer by the Lord Hoyle on 31 March (HL Deb, col. 146), what is the legal basis for the common fisheries policy; and to what extent the reform of that policy, including such possibilities as its abolition or the departure of the United Kingdom from its jurisdiction, can be achieved by (a) qualified majority voting and (b) unanimity, in which institutions of the European Union. [HL1519]
§ Lord DonoughueThe common fisheries policy is based on Articles three and 39 to 47 of the EC Treaty. The policy can be reformed by a qualified majority in the Council of Ministers on the basis of a proposal from the European Commission. However, abolition of the policy or the UK's withdrawal from it would require the unanimous agreement of member states to a treaty amendment.