Memorandum from the Rt Hon Peter Hain
Letter from the Rt Hon Peter Hain MP,
Government's Representative on the Convention on the Future of
Europe, to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee
During my evidence session with the Foreign
Affairs Committee, Andrew Mackinlay asked about the procedures
for suspending the rights of a Member State which has suffered
a coup d'etat.
First I want to make clear my conviction that
the EU is a force for stability. In the Convention, we are getting
a clearer picture of the kind of Union all members want—a
Union where Member States freely cooperate and integrate by agreement
where it makes sense in pursuit of clearly defined aims against
a background, and this is crucial, of shared values.
This is one of the reasons we championed the
latest round of enlargement. The most recent enlargement, and
the others we hope will follow, is about more than the economic
benefits. Enlargement is also about locking in peace and security
across our continent.
Candidates are only able to start accession
negotiations once they have met the Copenhagen political criteria.
These relate to democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human
rights and minorities. And where necessary, we have welcomed,
and will continue to welcome the adoption and implementation of
the constitutional and legislative reforms introduced by countries
seeking to address those priorities. These tests are rigorous.
The Community has in the past allowed applications only after
it became clear the countries in question were committed to entering
the political mainstream and has suspended association arrangements
with potential members which did not fulfil those criteria.
I agree the Member States must maintain the
highest standards of respect for human rights. It makes sense
for the Council to be able to act quickly and decisively when
it looks likely that breaches are about to occur and I am pleased
that we already have a proper Treaty-based course of action with
built-in safeguards. There has, since the Treaty of Amsterdam,
been provision in the Treaties for suspending the rights, including
voting rights, of a Member State which has persistently breached
the principles upon which the Union is based, namely liberty,
democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
and the rule of law. But in addition to that, we supported the
amendment in the Nice Treaty which introduced the early warning
mechanism for instances when there is a clear risk of these principles
being breached. These provisions have been maintained in the draft
text which has been proposed by the Convention's Praesidium.
I hope that this is helpful.
I am copying this letter to the Clerk of your
Committee and to Andrew Mackinlay.
Rt Hon Peter Hain MP
Government's Representative on the Convention on
the Future of Europe
April 2003
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