European Scrutiny
Committee Report - Response from Jim Murphy MP, MInister for Europe
FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE News Release issued by The Government News
Network on 9 October 2007
Responding to the
publication of a report on the European Union Inter-Governmental
Conference by the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee,
Minister for Europe Jim Murphy MP said:
"I welcome the publication of this report, just as I have
welcomed opportunities to provide evidence to this Committee, to
its House of Lords equivalent, and to the Foreign Affairs
Committee. I am pleased to note the Committee's recognition
that by defending its 'red lines' the UK has secured a
specific deal different to that on offer to the other 26 EU member states.
This is not just our view - it is also the view of the Presidents
of both the European Parliament and European Commission. And it
means that the version of the Treaty that the UK will be asked to
sign is the furthest away from the old constitutional concept. I
look forward to responding in greater detail to the
Committee's questions regarding how the 'red lines'
will work in practice.
The Foreign Secretary and I have gone to great lengths to keep
Parliament informed, including over the summer recess. From
September to the end of the year the Foreign Secretary and I
expect to have appeared before Parliamentary Committees to answer
questions on the Treaty on seven separate occasions. Parliament
will be central to the ratification process - there can be no
ratification without approval by an Act of Parliament.
I look forward to being able to respond in detail to the report
in due course, including to the specific questions asked of the
Government. In particular, as I have explained previously before
the Committee, the Government notes that the Reform Treaty is
significantly different to the old Constitutional Treaty in
intent, form and substance. All 27 EU leaders have agreed that
"the constitutional concept has been abandoned".
Notes to editors
European Commission President Barroso, 17 September 2007:
"The Treaty, including the hard-fought UK red lines, is not
the Constitution".
Hans-Gert Poettering, President of the European Parliament, 31
July 2007: "It is important to recognise that the situation
in the UK is quite different to that in the other 26 member
states.... The deal struck by Tony Blair in June means that - for
better or worse - much of its substance will not apply in Britain".
Ross Allen
Head of Europe Team and Press Officer for the Minister for Europe