Vol. 413 No. 5
62 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he is prepared to table proposals for the establishment of an elected European Senate, with equal representation of all EC States, to act as an upper house of the European Parliament, at the next or a future EC Intergovernmental Conference.
The Government do not consider that there is a need for the establishment of an elected European Senate as proposed by the Deputy and does not therefore intend to make proposals on the matter at the Intergovernmental Conference.
The Deputy will be aware that the European Parliament itself does not support the establishment of a second chamber but favours less far-reaching institutional procedures for establishing links between it and the national parliaments of the member states.
France has proposed the establishment of a "Congress" or Conference of Parliaments to be made up of representatives from the European Parliament and national parliaments. It would be consulted on the major issues facing the Union and would receive reports from the Presidents of the European Council and Commission on the state of the Union.
The Government will consider this and any other proposals that are tabled and will take a positive view on enhancing the involvement of national parliaments in the work of the Community.
