Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Written Answers. - EU Reform

Monica Barnes

Question:

77 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has reviewed the document presented by the Belgian Chamber of Representatives entitled The Current State of the EU and Related Tasks of the National Parliaments regarding Democratisation and Institutional Reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27757/98]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

The report referred to by the Deputy was written by Mr. R. Langendries, President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. It was presented to an informal conference of presidents of parliaments of EU member states and the European Parliament, which was held in Vienna on 1 December 1998, and the report formed the basis for debate at that conference. Ireland was represented at the conference by the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach.

The report deals with the role that the European and national parliaments can play in the ongoing debate on democratic legitimacy and institutional reform in the European Union, particularly in the context of the enhanced role for national parliaments set out in the Treaty of Amsterdam. I understand the report has now been brought to the attention of the Joint Committee on European Affairs. While my Department has seen the reports, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any review of the report being carried out by the committee.

However, the Government's views on democratic legitimacy and institutional reform have been made known to the committee, at its request, from time to time. With regard to democratic legitimacy, the Government fully supports the provisions in the Treaty of Amsterdam for better provision of information to national parliaments; for an enhanced role for COSAC, the Conference of European Affairs Committees of the National Parliaments of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Applicant States, and for a strengthened legislative role for the European Parliament. With regard to institutional reform, the Government's view firmly stated on previous occasions is that every member state must retain the right to nominate a full member of the Commission college.