My Lords, it is early days, but what specific examples could the Government present during the presidency of where funds from reductions in CAP payments would be redeployed into other areas—particularly research and development—under the Lisbon mark II arrangements?

My Lords, it is early days, but what specific examples could the Government present during the presidency of where funds from reductions in CAP payments would be redeployed into other areas—particularly research and development—under the Lisbon mark II arrangements?

My Lords, I agree that we should not have heightened or extravagant expectations under our presidency. Part of the reason for that is, to a certain extent, that we are seen as parti pris with respect to the negotiations. That does not mean that we cannot play a role, and...

My Lords, I agree that we should not have heightened or extravagant expectations under our presidency. Part of the reason for that is, to a certain extent, that we are seen as parti pris with respect to the negotiations. That does not mean that we cannot play a role, and...

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to repeat a Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister. The Statement is as follows: ““With permission, Mr Speaker, I shall make a statement about the European Council held in Brussels on 16...

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to repeat a Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister. The Statement is as follows: ““With permission, Mr Speaker, I shall make a statement about the European Council held in Brussels on 16...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for repeating this Statement today—an important Statement about the future direction of the European Union. For once, she can be assured that I will not raise the latest atrocities in Zimbabwe or the closure of EU markets to produce from the third world...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for repeating this Statement today—an important Statement about the future direction of the European Union. For once, she can be assured that I will not raise the latest atrocities in Zimbabwe or the closure of EU markets to produce from the third world...

My Lords, it is probably only human nature, but we expected a little dancing on the grave from the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde. In my view, he had his tap-dancing shoes on, but I see that a number of clog-dancers are in their places, so we shall probably hear from...

My Lords, it is probably only human nature, but we expected a little dancing on the grave from the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde. In my view, he had his tap-dancing shoes on, but I see that a number of clog-dancers are in their places, so we shall probably hear from...

My Lords, perhaps I can begin, as did the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, who said that he was not going to talk about Zimbabwe and then proceeded to do so, to remind the noble Lord that at the last General Affairs Council it was agreed to increase the numbers of...

My Lords, perhaps I can begin, as did the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, who said that he was not going to talk about Zimbabwe and then proceeded to do so, to remind the noble Lord that at the last General Affairs Council it was agreed to increase the numbers of...

My Lords, will the noble Baroness, when conveying to her colleagues the support, which seemed to be general, for the tone of the Statement, also advise that that same tone be maintained this week in the Government’s rhetoric in the European Parliament and at the Mansion House? It would be...

My Lords, will the noble Baroness, when conveying to her colleagues the support, which seemed to be general, for the tone of the Statement, also advise that that same tone be maintained this week in the Government’s rhetoric in the European Parliament and at the Mansion House? It would be...

Lords statement on the European Council meeting in Brussels on 16-17 June 2005.

Lords statement on the European Council meeting in Brussels on 16-17 June 2005.

My Lords, I have absolutely no hesitation in agreeing with my noble friend. The ridiculous situation that we have relates not only to the common agricultural policy, but to the structural and cohesion funds, through which money goes to some of the richest countries in the Mediterranean region rather than...

My Lords, I have absolutely no hesitation in agreeing with my noble friend. The ridiculous situation that we have relates not only to the common agricultural policy, but to the structural and cohesion funds, through which money goes to some of the richest countries in the Mediterranean region rather than...

My Lords, I think that the noble Lord is confused about the ratification process. If he goes back and thinks about the timing, he will find that the treaty contains a political declaration that envisages discussion at the European Council if, for example, 20 countries have ratified it by October...

My Lords, I think that the noble Lord is confused about the ratification process. If he goes back and thinks about the timing, he will find that the treaty contains a political declaration that envisages discussion at the European Council if, for example, 20 countries have ratified it by October...

My Lords, the noble Baroness the Leader of the House says that the treaty cannot proceed. Did she read Mr Christopher Booker’s excellent article in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday, which I appreciate may not be her favourite reading? He details a number of significant European initiatives that depend for their...

My Lords, the noble Baroness the Leader of the House says that the treaty cannot proceed. Did she read Mr Christopher Booker’s excellent article in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday, which I appreciate may not be her favourite reading? He details a number of significant European initiatives that depend for their...

My Lords, I assure the noble Lord, Lord McNally, that I have not got my clogs on; I have not even got my dancing shoes on. However, I guess that if the French and the Netherlands had said yes, he would have had his football boots on this afternoon to...

My Lords, I assure the noble Lord, Lord McNally, that I have not got my clogs on; I have not even got my dancing shoes on. However, I guess that if the French and the Netherlands had said yes, he would have had his football boots on this afternoon to...

My Lords, without raising expectations of what will happen under the UK presidency, does not my noble friend think that issues need to be resolved urgently in relation to the budgetary priorities, given that the WTO will reconvene in Hong Kong in December? At that point, the European position on...

My Lords, without raising expectations of what will happen under the UK presidency, does not my noble friend think that issues need to be resolved urgently in relation to the budgetary priorities, given that the WTO will reconvene in Hong Kong in December? At that point, the European position on...

My Lords, no, the CAP will not be returned to national governments—there is a debate to be had. With respect to saying that the constitution is dead—that is not our position.

My Lords, no, the CAP will not be returned to national governments—there is a debate to be had. With respect to saying that the constitution is dead—that is not our position.

My Lords, as ever, the noble Lord, Lord Kerr, is right—there is no single economic model. We in the United Kingdom are not on our own and I agree with the noble Lord that the tone of this debate is very important, which is why I stressed that this issue...

My Lords, as ever, the noble Lord, Lord Kerr, is right—there is no single economic model. We in the United Kingdom are not on our own and I agree with the noble Lord that the tone of this debate is very important, which is why I stressed that this issue...

My Lords—

My Lords—

Question!

Question!

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords—