HC Deb 24 January 2002 vol 378 cc999-1000W
Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which cases the Charter of Fundamental Rights has been cited in the European Court of Justice in the Advocate-General's opinion or the judges' decision. [29768]

Peter Hain

Providing the full list would incur disproportionate cost.

We are aware of the following cases in the European Court of Justice where the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights has been referred to in the Advocate General's opinion or the judge's decision:

The Opinion, delivered on 8 February 2001, of Advocate General Tizzano: Case C173/99: Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematographic and Theatre Union (BECTU) v. Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

The Opinion, delivered on 22 March 2001, of Advocate General Jacobs: Case 270/99: Z v. European Parliament.

The Opinion, delivered on 14 June 2001, of Advocate General Jacobs: Case C-377/98: Kingdom of the Netherlands v. European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

The Opinion, delivered on 10 July 2001, of Advocate General Leger: Case C-353/99 P: Council of the European Union v. Heidi Hautala MEP.

The Opinion, delivered on 20 September 2001, of Advocate General Mischo: Joined Cases C20/00 and C64/00: Booker Agriculture Ltd v. The Scottish Ministers and Hydro Seafood.

Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which member state Governments have stated that they(a) wish and (b) do not wish to see the Charter of Fundamental Rights incorporated into European Union law. [29769]

Peter Hain

The European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights was proclaimed as a political declaration at the Nice European Council in December 1999.

At the same time Heads of State or Government agreed to a review of the Charter's status at the next intergovernmental conference in 2004 as to whether, and if so how, the Charter should be integrated into the treaties.

A Convention on the Future of Europe, whose membership includes the representatives of the Heads of State or Government of the member states, and which will hold its inaugural meeting on 28 February 2002, has been convened to prepare the 2004 intergovernmental conference. One of the issues it will consider will be the charter's status.