European Constitution (UK Budget Abatement)

HC Deb 01 March 2004 vol 418 cc708-9W

Mr. Spring

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what procedure in Article I-53(4) of the draft Constitution for Europe the UK budget abatement would be determined. [157100]

Ruth Kelly

Article I-53(4) of the draft Constitution covers the modalities of the Own Resources system that determines how the European Union budget is to be financed. The draft text provides for any new Own Resources Decision to be determined by qualified majority voting in the Council and consent of the European Parliament The Government made clear in the White Paper on the Constitutional Treaty [Cm 5934] that it will insist on preserving arrangements which ensure that revenues remain a matter for member states, and decisions on them subject to unanimity and national ratification.