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WRITTEN QUESTION No. 788/96 by Bernd LANGE to the Council. Interpretation of Article 109j of the EC Treaty
Date: 1996-03-22
Institutions: European Parliament, LANGE
Subjects: Council of the European Union, EC Decision, Economic and Monetary Union, European integration, interpretation of the law, power of decision, qualified majority, rules of procedure













EUR-Lex - 91996E0788 - EN






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91996E0788

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 788/96 by Bernd LANGE to the Council. Interpretation of Article 109j of the EC Treaty  


Official Journal C 280 , 25/09/1996 P. 0081 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-0788/96 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Council (22 March 1996)Subject: Interpretation of Article 109j of the EC Treaty1. Does the Council intend, pursuant to Article 109j(3) of the EC Treaty, to take the decisions referred to therein within the agreed period or does it consider such a decision to be obsolete in the wake of the position adopted at the Madrid European Council? If no decision is to be taken pursuant to Article 109j(3) of the EC Treaty, what are the deadlines for the reports to be submitted by the European Commission and the European Monetary Institute pursuant to Article 109j(1)?2. What is the Council's view of the fact that, if it decides not to take a decision pursuant to Article 109j(3), Parliament is denied the opportunity of adopting a position, in the interests of Europe's citizens, on the question of participation by a majority of Member States and the appropriateness of entering the third stage? Would this not be a waste of an opportunity for reasoned debate on EMU, which is provided by the Treaty for a good reason?3. What alternative, pursuant to Article 148 of the EC Treaty, is applicable, in the Council's view, to the decisions referred to in Articles 109j(3) and (4) of the EC Treaty? To what extent can the Ioannina compromise be applied to the establishment of a majority in Council?Reply (25 June 1996)The conclusions of the Madrid European Council clearly do not oppose application of the provisions of the EC Treaty, including Article 109j(3). The Council attaches great importance to the exercise referred to in paragraph 1, which will be used to examine the progress made by Member States on convergence and the national legislation necessary for the achievement of economic and monetary union. There is therefore no need to seek an 'alternative'.The 'Ioannina compromise' ((Council Decision of 29 March 1994 concerning the taking of decisions by qualified majority by the Council (94/C 105/01), as amended by the Decision of 1 January 1995 (95/C 1/01). )) may be invoked only when the Council acts by a qualified majority, without prejudicing obligatory time limits laid down by the Treaties and by secondary law, in each instance in compliance with the Council's Rules of Procedure.