Billy Timmins
Question:197 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a discrepancy (details supplied) has been rectified; if so, the way in which this was done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27480/04]
View answerWednesday, 3 November 2004
Questions (145, 146)
Billy Timmins
Question:198 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the procedure which is necessary for a declaration to a European treaty to be changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27481/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together.
Declarations to EU treaties are statements of the political intent of those making the declaration. While they have political weight and can be taken into account in the interpretation of a treaty, they are not in themselves legally binding. There is, therefore, no formal procedure for their amendment, but they can be effectively replaced or altered by subsequent developments.
As regards the question of the qualified majority voting threshold in a Union of 27 members, following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, the situation remains as set out in my predecessor's letter of September 2002 to the Deputy.
The discrepancy between the figures given in two declarations to the Treaty of Nice was effectively resolved before signature of that treaty in February 2001. The operative figure for the period between the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, which is likely to take place in 2007, and the planned entry into effect on 1 November 2009 of the new voting system provided for in the European Constitution, is to be 255 votes out of a total of 345. This will be legally provided for in the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, which will be prepared for signature following the successful conclusion of negotiations with them.