Extended Meaning of "the Treaties" and "the Community Treaties"

Part of Orders of the Day — European Communities (Amendment) Bill – in the House of Commons at 9:15 pm on 16 June 1986.

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Photo of Mr Nicholas Budgen Mr Nicholas Budgen , Wolverhampton South West 9:15, 16 June 1986

My hon. Friend is wrong. The treaty does not envisage a static situation. It lays down a large number of principles—not all of which are consistent with each other — by which the European Community may proceed. My hon. Friend cannot, therefore, say that we are talking about the interpretation of the treaty at any one moment. We are discussing the interpretation of a living system of law.