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Economic and Social Committee

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the role and functions of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Union. [3438]

Mr. Doug Henderson: The role and functions of the Economic and Social Committee are currently under discussion in the Intergovernmental Conference.

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Taiwan

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what exchanges he has had with the United States with a view to securing the territorial integrity of Taiwan. [2049]

Mr. Fatchett: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has had no exchanges with the United States on Taiwan. We acknowledge the position of the People's Republic of China that Taiwan is a province of China. We attach importance to the maintenance of peace in the Taiwan straits.

EU Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what procedure he expects the Council of Ministers to appoint a Foreign Affairs spokesperson, as proposed in drafts of the treaty of Amsterdam; under what terms such a person will operate; and what arrangements will be made for their direct consultation with the Foreign Ministers of member states prior to the exercise of their functions. [3906]

Mr. Doug Henderson: Under the Presidency's current proposal, the Secretary-General of the Council would assist the Council in the common foreign and security policy field, contributing to the formulation, preparation and implementation of policy decisions. When appropriate, he or she would conduct political dialogue with third parties on behalf of the Council at the request of the Presidency. The Secretary-General is appointed by the Council acting unanimously and would operate in this new role on the basis of clearly defined mandates from the Council.

Qualified Majority Voting

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the topics suggested for future agreement by qualified majority vote of the Council of Ministers of the European Community contained in draft proposals from the Presidency to be considered at the forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference. [3911]

Mr. Doug Henderson: Below is the relevant section from the latest Presidency proposal:


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It should be noted that:


    questions related to the free movement of persons shall be governed initially by unanimity but, after a transitional period of three years, should in principle fall within the scope of qualified majority voting;


    the broader scope of Article 113 of the TEC implies a broader scope for QMV;


    the new CFSP provisions on decision-making entail an extension for QMV;


    a number of new provisions in the Treaty will also be subject to QMV;


    Article 209a (countering fraud);


    New Article (customs cooperation);


    Article 213a (statistics);


    Article 213b (protection of individuals with regard to the processing and free movement of personal data).

EU Legislative Proposals

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas where legislative proposals of the Council of the European Community can be halted by a resolution of the European parliament (a) currently and (b) as proposed by the Presidency to the IGC. [3909]

Mr. Doug Henderson: Measures under the following Treaty Articles are subject to the assent of, or codecision with the European Parliament:


So far as further areas are concerned, below is the relevant section from the latest Presidency proposal.




    Assent procedure
    The assent procedure would apply to the following provisions:
    New Treaty provisions
    Article Fa: Sanctions in the event of a serious and persistent breach of fundamental rights by a Member State.
    Existing Treaty provisions
    Article O: Accession procedure.
    Article 138(3): Proposals by the European Parliament for a uniform electoral procedure.
    Article 228(3), second subpara: Conclusion of certain international agreements.
    New Treaty provisions
    Article (5): Employment--Incentive measures.
    Article 119: Social policy--Equal opportunities and treatment.
    Article 129: Public health (former basis Article 43--consultation):
    minimum requirements regarding quality and safety of organs;
    veterinary and phytosanitary measures with the direct objective the protection of public health.
    Article 191a: General principles for transparency.
    Article 209a: Countering fraud affecting the financial interests of the Community.
    New Article: Customs cooperation.
    Article 213a: Statistics.
    Article 213b: Establishment of independent advisory authority on data protection.


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Western European Union

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he received notice from the Presidency of the European Union concerning the Franco-German proposal for progressive absorption of the Western European Union into the European Union; what information that notice gave of the opinions of other member states; and what subsequent steps he has taken to inform the originators of the proposal of the opinion of Her Majesty's Government. [3907]

Mr. Doug Henderson: On 24 March the Presidency of the European Union circulated to all Partners a letter enclosing a joint proposal by Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain for the phased integration of the Western European Union into the European Union. We have made clear both in the Intergovernmental

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Conference (IGC) and in bilateral meetings with Partners that we oppose the integration of the Western European Union into the European Union.


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