European Union

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 5:36 pm on 12 December 1996.

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Photo of Malcolm Rifkind Malcolm Rifkind Foreign Secretary 5:36, 12 December 1996

The right hon. Gentleman does not understand what he is saying. A power of co-decision is exactly that: it means that, instead of the Council of Ministers' having the sole right to determine legislation—Ministers who are answerable to their own Parliaments and their own electorates—the European Parliament's approval would also be required. If the right hon. Gentleman, in advocating more co-decision, is not even aware of what he is recommending, he really ought to do a little more homework.