§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 March 1998,Official Report, column 511, on qualified majority voting, if he will define matters other than the approximation of laws; which body will determine if a measure falls into this category; and what measures are planned to be implemented under this provision. [33919]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonUnder Article 34(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union as introduced by the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Council may adopt decisions for any purposes consistent with the objectives of Title VI (provisions on police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters) which do not involve approximation of the laws and regulations of the Member States. These might include decisions concerning measures of practical co-operation or expenditure programmes in the police and judicial field, but it is too soon to anticipate what measures might be adopted under this provision.
It will be for the Council to determine whether measures will fall into this category.