WRITTEN QUESTION E-0570/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council. Extension of qualified majority voting.
Date: 2000-03-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, qualified majority

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/15

As a general point, the Commission would note that the presence of state enterprises in certain sectors of
economic activity is a matter solely for the Member States, within the limits of the rules imposed by the
EC Treaty and of the policies liberalising certain economic sectors at Community level.

The electricity sector is regulated by Parliament and Council Directive 96/92/EC of 19 December 1996
concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (1). The Directive does not regulate the
ownership of electricity companies, but lays down the rules relating to the organisation and functioning of
the electricity sector and access to the market. Nevertheless, the Commission follows the issue of mergers
and acquisitions in the electricity sector very closely. Where these have a Community aspect, they will be
dealt with under the Merger Regulation (Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on
the control of concentrations between undertakings) (2).

(1) OJ L 27, 30.1.1997.
(2) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989; as last amended by OJ L 40, 13.2.1998.

(2001/C 46 E/018)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0570/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council

(2 March 2000)

Subject: Extension of qualified majority voting

Will the Council please indicate which Member States proposed an extension of qualified majority voting
and in which areas during the last two Intergovernmental Conferences, which were agreed and which
Member States were opposed to such extension?

Reply

(10 July 2000)

The Council would like to remind the Honourable Member that the Intergovernmental Conference is a
temporary forum, composed of representatives of the Governments of the Member States and separate
from the Council.

The Council
positions adopted by the Member States in the IGC.

is not, therefore, entitled to answer questions relating to the proceedings of the IGC or

(Directorate-General

As the Honourable Member will be aware, extension of qualified majority voting is a recurrent topic of
discussion at Intergovernmental Conferences and is making headway as the Treaties evolve. With regard to
the progress made in Maastricht, the Council would refer to a study carried out by the European
Parliament Secretariat
for Research, Political and Institutional Affairs Division)
in January 1996. As regards the progress made in Amsterdam, the Council would point out that it was
agreed that meetings of the Preparatory Group of representatives of the Governments of the Member
States should be attended by two Members of the European Parliament, as observers, who could voice the
European Parliament(cid:146)s views on all issues under discussion and who would receive the relevant documen-
tation. This was also intended to keep Members of the European Parliament better informed about the
course of proceedings and the actual results achieved.

For the current IGC, the same arrangements apply. The Honourable Member is therefore sure to be
informed of progress at the Conference, and particularly of positions stated on extension of qualified
majority voting, by the European Parliament observers.