HC Deb 05 June 2000 vol 351 cc42-4W
Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the discussions at the Intergovernmental Conference, the Government have ruled out the introduction of a system of double majority voting in the Council of Ministers as an alternative to a reweighting of votes; and if he will make a statement. [124064]

Mr. Vaz

The Government's position is clearly set out in the White Paper laid before the House on 15 February.

Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the Commission's list of the 20 Treaty Articles on which a majority of member states wish to extend qualified majority voting, as stated recently by Commissioner Barnier. [124068]

Mr. Vaz

Negotiations at the IGC are still at an early stage. Member states have not yet put forward definitive positions on the range of IGC topics, including extension of qualified majority voting.

Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on the Commission's proposal to extend qualified majority voting to Article 13 of the Treaty. [124066]

Mr. Vaz

The IGC is a matter for member states to negotiate and decide. The Government have taken note of the Commission's suggestions for discussion. Our own approach is set out in the White Paper "IGC: Reform for Enlargement".

Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the five-page document submitted to the IGC Government representatives group meeting on 2 May on the subject of qualified majority voting. [124071]

Mr. Vaz

I have placed a copy in the Library of the House. The Presidency has also given a commitment to make all discussion documents publicly available on the internet.

Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made on the Commission's proposals to extend qualified majority voting to the areas not excluded in the Government's White Paper "IGC: Reform for Enlargement". [124069]

Mr. Vaz

The Commission's views do not set the agenda for discussions at the IGC. Treaty change is a matter for member states. The Government's approach to the discussions is set out in their White Paper "IGC: Reform for Enlargement". We are in regular contact with partners on the extension of QMV, and the issue has been discussed several times in the IGC Preparatory Group and by Ministers in the margins of the GAC.

Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions to date at the Intergovernmental Conference. [124065]

Mr. Vaz

The Government Representatives group has been meeting on a regular basis to discuss the range of IGC issues. A 'Friends of the Presidency' group of legal experts has also met to discuss reform of the Court of Justice. Foreign Ministers have met four times in the margins of the General Affairs Council. The Presidency will present a progress report to the European Council in Feira on 19 and 20 June.

In the meetings, there has been general agreement that the IGC should focus on issues that need to be tackled before enlargement, especially vote reweighting in the Council, the size and composition of the Commission and the possible extension of qualified majority voting.