John Bruton
Question:110 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any plans exist to convene further intergovernmental conferences to revise the European Community Treaties.
Written Answers. - Intergovernmental Conferences.
Article 236 of the EC Treaty (and Article N of the Treaty on European Union) permits the government of any member state to propose Treaty amendments. If the Council of Ministers gives a favourable opinion on the proposal, after receiving the views of the Parliament and of the Commission, an intergovernmental conference can be called by the President of the Council to consider the proposed amendments. These must be agreed by common accord — in effect by unanimity.
Article N of the Treaty on European Union provides for the convening in 1996 of a conference of representatives of the Governments of the member states to examine Treaty provisions for which revision is provided, in accordance with the objectives set out in Articles A and B of the Treaty. These include the establishment of a single currency, the framing of a common defence policy and consideration of the policies and forms of the co-operation introduced by the Treaty that may need to be revised with the aim of ensuring the effectiveness of the mechanisms and the institutions of the Community.