§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what draft documents were presented by the Presidency of the European Union to be considered at the European Council in Tampere, on 15 and 16 October concerning any aspect of the Union's area of freedom, security and justice; when these were received by Her Majesty's Government; and what steps were taken by the Presidency to make documents publicly available prior to the meeting. [94363]
§ Mr. StrawThe Presidency have produced only one draft document for consideration at the European Council itself. This was a paper dated 5 October on the composition and working arrangements for the body to be charged with the preparation of a draft European Union Charter of Rights; I understand that it was not published. In July, the Presidency presented three discussion papers on possible themes for the Tampere European Council intended to assist member states in their preparations. I understand that these documents were not published.
I should add that the Presidency have been happy to make widely known their developing policy towards this European Council. In this regard, for example, they gave oral evidence before Sub-Committee F of the House of Lords European Communities Committee on 6 July, in the context of that Sub-Committee's inquiry into Prospects for the Tampere European Council. They have also placed extensive material on their internet website.