HC Deb 27 February 2003 vol 400 c679W
Mr. Ancram

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is with regard to recent proposals by the French and German governments that decisions over European Common Foreign and Security Policy be taken by qualified majority vote; what discussions he has had with the two governments concerning this matter; and if he will make a statement. [93438]

Mr. Straw

[holding answer 27 January 2003]: Her Majesty's Government will not come to final decisions on the matter until it has had, in due course, the opportunity to study the Reports of the Convention as a whole. The right hon. Gentleman will wish to note that in the Convention Working Group, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales proposed the following: "While noting that there was no consensus yet on the further extension of QMV, the Group could agree that the future Treaty should include a provision, which would provide for the possibility of the European Council agreeing to extend (on the basis of unanimity) the use of QMV in CFSP.".