Vol. 398 No. 5
33 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the call made by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for amendments to the Treaty of Rome, to ensure that social measures can be introduced at the same pace as technical and economic changes; if he has raised this matter or plans to raise it at the Council of EC Foreign Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware that the formal position of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on the matter is as expressed in the Deputy's question.
As this House will be aware, the European Council, at its special meeting on 28 April, confirmed its commitment to the achievement of political union. To this end, it decided that a detailed examination should be conducted with a view to identifying treaty amendments that may be necessary for this purpose.
Political union is intended to complement and reinforce the internal market and the Economic and Monetary Union which the Heads of Government have agreed should be progressively established. The aim is to ensure that all the key decisions necessary for the achievement of an economic, social and political Community will be taken before the end of 1992.
The Ministers for Foreign Affairs have been entrusted with the task of preparing proposals for consideration by the European Council in June with a view to a decision on the convening of a second Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union to work in parallel with the forthcoming Conference on Economic and Monetary Union. The Foreign Ministers' deliberations in this matter, which are just commencing, form the context in which appropriate consideration may be given to the possible need for further changes in the Community's decision-making process.
