Treaty of Rome

HC Deb 05 May 1998 vol 311 c342W

Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement identifying the types of derogation from the Treaty of Rome, as amended, that are without time limit. [40479]

Mr. Doug Henderson

There are a number of Articles in the Treaty of Rome which allow Member States to derogate from the normal application of Community law rules. Examples are Articles 36, 55, 56, 222 and 223.

Derogations may also be found in the protocols to the Treaty, for example the protocols which permit the UK and Denmark not to move to the third stage of economic and monetary union.

Unlike transitional provisions which give newly acceded Member States certain derogations of limited duration, these derogations are not time limited in their application.