Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Apr 1990

Vol. 397 No. 9

Written Answers. - Economic and Monetary Union.

John Bruton

Ceist:

84 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the alternative proposals made by the President of the European Commission, Mr. Delors, to establish either a proper European executive for an economic and monetary union by either each Government designating a Deputy Prime Minister to meet in Brussels once a week or, alternatively, to transform the European Commission into a proper executive answerable for its functions; and if he will outline the implications of both of these proposals for the existing Council of Ministers.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

It is clear that the establishment of an economic and monetary union will necessitate institutional changes within the Community in order to ensure that this union functions efficiently and to the benefit of the Community as a whole. Current discussions concerning the prospects for advancing towards political union may very well give rise to a need for consideration of further institutional change.

It is still too early to say what arrangements may be made to administer the Community of the future. These, and related issues, will have to be examined in depth during the inter-governmental negotiations which are scheduled to commence in the second half of this year. At this stage, it would be premature for me to comment on these issues which will be considered at the special meeting of the European Council due to take place on Saturday next.