HC Deb 16 January 2001 vol 361 cc165-6W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list each proposed new provision, in the provisional text of the Treaty of Nice, where unanimity is changed for a qualified majority vote, indicating for each(a) the proposed Nice, amended current treaty article, and Nice treaty declaration, (b) the purpose of the powers in each existing and new provision, (c) the reasons for Her Majesty's Government's acceptance of each provision and (d) the expected impact of the relevant provision; [144818]

(2) if he will list the provisions in the provisional text of the Treaty of Nice which specify that Article 251 of the Community Treaty shall apply, indicating in respect of each (a) the purpose of the Treaty power so authorised and (b) requirements of vote mode in each vote in (i) a European or Ministerial Council and (ii) the European Parliament; [144819]

(3) if, in respect of the provisional text of the Treaty of Nice, he will list each item where a change in voting procedure from unanimity to qualified majority voting has been agreed, indicating in each case (a) the article concerned, (b) the purpose and scope of the article and (c) the reasons underlying the Government's support for the change; [144890]

(4) if he will list in respect of the provisional text of the Treaty of Nice the changes in the voting procedure from unanimity to qualified majority in the areas of (a) freedom, security and justice, (b) finance and the single market and (c) other areas in which decisions will be determined by qualified majority at the relevant Council of Ministers. [144892]

Mr. Vaz

For a detailed list of the articles that were extended to qualified majority voting (including those that will also become subject to co-decision with the European Parliament) at the Nice European Council, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 9 January 2001,Official Report, columns 510–12W.

In all cases the Government supported the moves to QMV as being in the interests of the United Kingdom. These moves will make decision-making easier in an enlarged EU.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the Government assented to amendments to Article 214 of the Treaty of the European Community which would make the appointment of the President of the European Commission by the European Council subject to a form of qualified majority voting; and when in 2000 a statement giving notice of this intention was made. [144743]

Mr. Vaz

In the White Paper "IGC: Reform for Enlargement" the Government made clear its commitment to the effective political and administrative leadership of the College of Commissioners. Making the appointment of the President of the European Commission subject to qualified majority voting will help to ensure that the best candidate, rather than the one most acceptable to all, is selected as the President.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate each change in voting procedure from unanimity to qualified majority contained in the provisional text of the Treaty of Nice which was initially opposed(a) by the UK Government and (b) by other Governments, together with the respective reasons for such opposition. [144891]

Mr. Vaz

The UK approached each proposed move to qualified majority voting on a case-by-case basis. The Government support the moves to QMV in the Treaty of Nice as being in the UK's interests. We successfully maintained the UK veto in areas of key national interest, such as tax, social security, Treaty change, defence, the UK's border controls and Own Resources.

The position of other member states to changes is a matter for the relevant Governments concerned.