Vol. 416 No. 4
7 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on whether the number of German members of the European Parliament should be increased to take account of the increased size of Germany relative to other member states following German reunification.
41 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on whether the number of German members of the European Parliament should be increased to take account of the increased size of Germany relative to other member states following German reunification.
50 Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on whether the number of German members of the European Parliament should be increased to take account of the increased size of Germany relative to other member states following German reunification.
58 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on whether the number of German members of the European Parliament should be increased to take account of the increased size of Germany relative to other member states following German reunification.
63 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on whether the number of German members of the European Parliament should be increased to take account of the increased size of Germany relative to other member states following German reunification.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 41, 50, 58 and 63 together as they have been put down in identical terms.
During the Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union last year Germany proposed that the number of its representatives in the European Parliament be increased from the present 81 to 99 to take account of the addition to its population arising from the unification of Germany. It did not prove possible to reach agreement on this proposal. However the conference agreed that the member states of the Community will examine the questions relating to the number of members of the European Parliament before the end of 1992. The aim will be to reach agreement on the number of MEPs and to carry through the necessary legal arrangements in good time for the next European Parliament election which will take place in mid 1994. The agreement reached will have to take into account the possibility of further enlargement of the Community and the need to decide what should be the overall size of the European Parliament in such an enlarged Community.
Discussions on these issues will take place in the near future in the Council of Ministers. Ireland is positively disposed towards an arrangement which would ensure adequate representation in the European Parliament of the people of the eastern part of Germany.
We will, of course, also be conscious of the need to ensure that Irish representation remains at an adequate level in any new situation.
Will the Minister accept that the request by the German authorities for 18 extra members is not unreasonable in the context of the additional population as a result of a reunified Germany? Will the Minister accept that if we support the German request in this regard it does not really affect our situation from the point of view of the numbers we have in the European Parliament, which amounts to 15 members at present?
If an application is made by the German Government in that regard we would not be found wanting. However, for the formation of the House, the European Parliament, as the Deputy is aware, currently has 518 members. The size of each national allocation is determined by the EC Treaty. The large states each have 81 members, giving representation of one member for 600,000 to 800,000 people. The smaller states have fewer numbers. Ireland has 15 seats, giving representation of one member for about 230,000 people. The common complaint among larger states is that their populations are under-represented relative to the smaller states in the European Parliament. As evidenced by the above approximation of representation this complaint is understandable and account will have to be taken of the reunification of Germany.
Will the Minister agree that the issue raised by Germany has much wider implications for eastern Europe on the one hand and northern Europe on the other, where there are also applications for membership? Within a very short time on the basis of current ratios we could see a European Parliament closer to 1,000 members, which would clearly be unworkable as the Parliament is currently structured. In that regard will the Minister circulate to Deputies a range of views on how the Irish Government see the European Parliament developing in future and how representation from countries like Ireland can be maintained in a way which gives some balance to the smaller countries of Europe? There is a lot of pressure at European parliamentary level for more powers. Clearly, that also must have a bearing on how the numbers in the Parliament develop and how the ratio of national members in that Parliament has an impact on decisions to be made.
There is no doubt that the prospect of an unworkable European Parliament is very evident. I agree with the Deputy that perhaps the issue should be addressed. An analysis of the future structure of the European Parliament in the context of enlargement would not be unreasonable. With this in mind, it is my intention to request the officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs to assist the House in respect of the Deputy's request.
This matter could be discussed by a Foreign Affairs Committee.
Yes.
