HL Deb 08 September 2003 vol 652 c31WA
Lord Howell of Guildford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the United Kingdom's Schengen opt-out on border controls will be preserved under the proposed Constitutional Treaty of the European Union.[HL4006]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The draft constitutional treaty produced by the Convention on the Future of Europe makes clear that the protocols attached to it remain an integral part of it. This will include the protocol integrating the Schengenacquis, under which the UK has made a successful application for partial participation.

The Government's position on the Protocols relating to our frontier controls in general and our opt-out from the Schengen agreement in particular has not changed. We will maintain controls at the UK's frontiers.