§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas of policy where the United Kingdom would lose its veto if the Commission proposals in Com(2000)34 were adopted. [120812]
§ Mr. Vaz[holding answer 5 May 2000]: The Commission's opinion Com(2000)34 is not an agenda for the intergovernmental conference. Only member states can make changes to voting procedures in the Treaty. The Government will consider the possible extension of qualified majority voting on a case-by-case basis. When it is in Britain's interests to support QMV, we shall do so. However, where key national interests are at stake—such as on treaty changes, border controls, social security, taxation, own resources and defence—we shall insist on retaining unanimity.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the areas of policy where the United Kingdom has a veto over EU proposals. [120813]
§ Mr. Vaz[holding answer 5 May 2000]: There are 73 articles and sub-articles subject to unanimity in the main EU Treaties. I have placed a complete list in the House of Commons Library.