§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in(a) COREPER and (b) other working groups of the Council of Ministers concerning the proposals of the European Parliament for changes to arrangements for elections to the European Parliament after 1999. [67931]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe European Parliament adopted proposals for Common Principles for elections to the European Parliament on 15 July 1998. These were considered by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) on 10 September and 9 December 1998 and referred to the General Affairs Working Group of the Council. Discussion there is continuing and the General Affairs Working Group will report to COREPER in due course.