Deferred Division

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:36 pm on 18 June 2003.

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Photo of Gisela Stuart Gisela Stuart Labour, Birmingham, Edgbaston 3:36, 18 June 2003

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that it does. It must be recognised that there is a Union interest if a member were to withdraw. Let us think through the political consequences if France, for example, decided to withdraw. There is a proper process. There is a time limit by which the European Council would have to take note of such a decision, but the political reality is that, for the first time, we have created a proper legal basis for that process. By the way, withdrawal was also possible before then; one country has withdrawn.