Written question asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UK Independence Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Monday, 26 March 2007.

EU: Treaties

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the debate on 15 March (Official Report, cols. 826-28), whether they will veto or grant a referendum to the British people on any proposed European Union treaty which proposes to grant legal personality to the European Union superior to that of the member states.

Answer: Under the UK’s constitutional arrangements, it is ultimately for Parliament to decide whether to hold a referendum given the particular circumstances of the issue. On certain issues, the Government have recommended that particular arrangements should be subject to a referendum, but there is no requirement to hold one. There is no consensus among EU member states on the way forward regarding the constitutional treaty. The German presidency will present a report to the June European Council on the state of discussions on the future of Europe. The Government make no presumption on the outcome of these discussions. Their approach was set out in my right honourable friend the Minister for Europe's Written Ministerial Statement of 5 December 2006 (Official Report, Commons, cols. 10-11WS) in another place. This remains the Government's position.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2794; 690 c237WA
Session: 2006-07
Related items: EU: Article 308
Thursday, 15 March 2007
Oral questions
House of Lords; EU: Future of Europe
Tuesday, 5 December 2006
Written statements
House of Lords
Subjects: Constitutions European Union Referendums Treaties
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk