Paris calls for wider use of majority voting

Date: 07/09/00

By Simon Taylor

The proposal, which also sets out precise conditions for abolishing national vetoes in controversial areas such as taxation, social security and international trade negotiations, was tabled ahead of a meeting to discuss planned changes to the Union treaty this week.

Diplomats said that government representatives had finally begun substantial negotiations on the issue after months of shadow boxing. "This is the first time that delegations have looked at the points seriously," said one official, adding: "There is positive engagement and openness among delegations."

The new list of areas which could be decided by qualified majority voting (QMV) suggested by Paris includes rules on internal border controls, visas and rights for visiting non-EU citizens - issues not included on the lists drawn up by Portuguese and Finnish diplomats during their stints in charge of Union business.

The French paper also proposes drawing up a tighter definition of the circumstances in which QMV might be applied to taxation rules in an attempt to overcome opposition from some governments, led by the UK and Ireland, to ending the unanimity requirement for tax issues. Paris argues that majority voting could be used to "update" legislation on value added tax, excise duties and levies on capital rather than to introduce new forms of tax harmonisation.

In the social security field, France has called for QMV to apply only to the conditions set for granting unemployment benefit - a move designed to overcome Danish opposition to ending the unanimity rule at all in this sensitive area.

While most governments responded positively to Paris' proposals, some voiced frustration that France seemed unwilling to extend QMV to giving the Commission negotiating rights on services, intellectual property rights and investment rules in international bodies such as the World Trade Organisation to match the powers it already has to hold talks with third parties on other sectors.

Following this week's discussions, French diplomats promised to draw up new papers incorporating member states' views on these issues in time for the next negotiating session, which will be held on 25 September.

Officials said real progress could be made on how far to extend QMV before the two summit meetings planned by the French presidency for October and December. But they predict that the other main issues due to be settled as part of the ongoing treaty reform negotiations - the number of Commissioners in an enlarged Union and the weighting of votes in the Council of Ministers - will only be agreed at the last minute.

The French Presidency has drawn up a new list of EU policy areas where decisions could be taken by qualified majority vote, calling for the abolition of national vetoes in 43 areas instead of the 37 previously suggested.