Written question asked by Denzil Davies (Labour) on Monday, 5 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 July 2004. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Monday, 12 July 2004 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the areas of shared competence within the EU Constitutional Treaty where an unanimous decision of the member states will be required to enable the Union to acquire sole competence.

Answer: Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the areas of shared competence within the EU Constitutional Treaty where a unanimous decision of the member states will be required to enable the Union to acquire sole competence. [182965] Mr. MacShane: Article I-13 of the EU Constitutional Treaty details the areas of shared competence between the Union and the member states. In order for any of these areas to be changed to areas where the Union has exclusive competence, the Treaty would need to be changed. According to the provisions of the EU Constitutional Treaty, these changes would require an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to be convened. Changes proposed during the IGC would then be subject to unanimous agreement by all heads of all member states in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 182965; 423 c966W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Constitutions Decision taking Convention on the Future of Europe European Union Treaties
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk