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Agora' Agora - 12 giugno 1991
Intergovernmental Conference on political union

Marcelino Oreja (PPE E) and David Martin (SOC GB)

(Reports of the plenary session of June 1991 in Strasbourg)

Wednesday, 12 June - Introducing an oral question to both the Commission and Council seeking a new iniative to bring in, amongst other things, co--decision making between Council and Parliament, institutional affairs committee chariman Marcelino Oreja (S, EPP) said he was worried about lack of progress towards a genuine Federal Europe at the Intergovernment Conferenc-e. In particular the Luxembourg Presidency's proposals on co-decision making by in effect limiting Parliament to a veto over legislation were, he felt, inadequate.

But, in reply, Council President-in-Office Jacques Poos did not share his pessimism. It was not, he said, commenting on some interpretations of the Luxembourg Presidency's proposals, his intention to tilt the Community more towards an intergovernmental arrangement but on the contrary to move towards a half way stage between some policy decisions to be taken on a federal basis with others between the member states.

And, he said, without going into detail, the proposals on co-decision making had been amended in the light of discussions. If they could now be agreed unanimously then this would represent a major step forward for Parliament in the legislative field.

He did say, however, that the essential element i.e. that neither branch of the legislative body, Parliament nor Council, would be able to legislate without the consent of the other. And, he added, there would now be a role for the Commission.

The member states were not, however, prepared to go along with Parliament's will for a 'double investiture' of the Commission but Parliament would be involved in the appointment of the Commission.

The questions of economic cohesion and social policy were two areas where, he said, there were disagreements. Without mentioning any names, he did say one delegation would not agree to majority voting on social questions and that this would have to be referred to the Summit.

But he was more optimistic on the question of citizenship, where, he said, the conference was close to an agreement which would allow voting rights for EC citizens resident anywhere in the Community in local and European elections.

As to foreign and security policy, here there were two differences of opinion, with the state of play reflecting a delicate balance between a federal and intergovernmental structure. There were also differences over defence policy where it was necessary to involve NATO and the WEU.

David Martin (Lothians, Soc) looked forward to the new draft on do-decision making. At the very least Parliament was insisting on co-decision making for all cooperation procedure proposals, he said.

The new category of 'laws' proposed by the Presidency could, he believed, lead to confusion so he looked for clarification on this front and another area where there could be a useful change would be in fixing the dates for the period of office of the Commission to coincide with that of Parliament. That would enable the electorate to identify with the executive, he said.

Political union (continuation of debate)

(B3-840/91 and B3-841/91)

Wednesday, 12 June - Resuming this mornings debate, Karel de Gucht (B, LDR) said full co-decision making was Parliament's key demand. This was also supported by Derek Prag (Hertfordshire, ED) who added that there would be no use in this if it only applied to a tiny proportion of EC legislation. Above all, Mr Prag stressed that he didn't want a Community run by un--elected civil servants, hence the merit of Parliament's position.

Other speakers to support a greater role for Parliament and a more democrat-ic EC included Claire Joanny (F, Greens), Maurice Duverger (I, EUL), Francis Musso (F, EDA) and Vassilis Ephremidis (Gr, LU), while Jaak Vandem-eulebroucke (B, RBW) made a plea for proper involvement of the regions through a Council of the regions.

In reply, Commission President Jacques Delors felt that significant progress had been made in the IGC on political union, although he acknowledged that further impetus was necessary from the heads of government in respect of foreign policy, strengthening Parliament's powers and reducing regional imbalances.

Even if the process of building Europe was slow, a window had to remain open for the possibility of a Federal Europe one day, said Mr Delors. Such a feder-ation would give an effective and transparent democracy, he stressed, which ran counter to the claims that Europe was about centralisation.

On foreign policy, he believeed that it was not possible for this to be distinct and separate from external economic policy and development aid. Thus there was a need for an EC role in foreign policy involving consultation of Parliament, he concluded.

As for Parliament's legislative role, he made it clear that every legislative text had got to be subject to co-decision and he supported direct discussions between Council and Parliament through the conciliation committee when disputes arose. Where the Commission was unhappy with the outcome, it could always ask for the proposal to be withdrawn, he said.

In the social sphere, he believed there had to be minimal provisions at the EC level and he backed qualified majority voting in Council in this area but excluding social security systems. However, the lack of this voting procedure currently, should not be used as an excuse for the Council taking no decisions at all in the social field, he added.

Finally, on the involvement of the regions, he said the Commission was proposing a Regional Assembly which would be consulted on regional proposals and issues, but he warned that there were difficulties because member states had differing approaches to regional representation.

 
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