§ Lord Shore of Stepneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to Article 190(4) of the European Union's treaty on elections to the European Parliament, when the Council of Ministers received the proposals contained in the European Parliament's Resolution of 15 July 1998; and what recommendations for adoption the Council made to member states. [HL3222]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)The Council has been considering the proposals for common principles for European Parliamentary Elections since the European Parliament adopted its resolution on 15 July 1998.
No decisions can be made until the Council receives a formal proposal from the European Parliament following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, which introduced Article 190(4).