Lord Bruce of Doningtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in respect of the European Union Internal Market Council held on 27 November they will publish the detailed text of each political agreement, agreed common positions, proposals and directive 159WA modifications accompanied by qualified majority on that occasion together with particulars of voting by each member state.
§ Lord Simon of HighburyThe department sends to the parliamentary scrutiny committees copies of all common positions. These do not differ materially from political agreements. The department also sends proposals and amending modifications put forward by the European Commission. The department will ensure that, in future, all parliamentary answers reporting the outcomes of internal market councils give voting particulars. At the 27 November Council, these were as follows:
Action Robert Schuman agreement on a common position by a qualified majority (QM), with Germany, Netherlands and Sweden voting against.
KAROLUS: unanimous political agreement.
Legal protection of biotechnology political agreement by QM, with the Netherlands voting against, and Belgium and Italy abstaining.
Amendment of Directive 83/189/EC to extend its provisions for regulatory transparency to information society services: agreement by QM on a common position, with Germany and the Netherlands abstaining, and Belgium opposing.
Supplementary supervision of insurance undertakings in an insurance group: political agreement by QM, with Germany opposing.
In vitro diagnostic medical devices: unanimous agreement by QM on a common position.
Amendment of Directive 95/2/EC on food additives: agreement by QM on a common position, with Germany, Austria and Denmark voting against and Belgium abstaining.
Coffee extracts and chicory extracts: unanimous agreement.