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European Scrutiny Committee Report - Response from Jim Murphy MP, MInister for Europe

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE News Release issued by The Government News Network on 9 October 2007

Responding to the publication of a report on the European Union Inter-Governmental Conference by the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee, Minister for Europe Jim Murphy MP said:

"I welcome the publication of this report, just as I have welcomed opportunities to provide evidence to this Committee, to its House of Lords equivalent, and to the Foreign Affairs Committee. I am pleased to note the Committee's recognition that by defending its 'red lines' the UK has secured a specific deal different to that on offer to the other 26 EU member states.

This is not just our view - it is also the view of the Presidents of both the European Parliament and European Commission. And it means that the version of the Treaty that the UK will be asked to sign is the furthest away from the old constitutional concept. I look forward to responding in greater detail to the Committee's questions regarding how the 'red lines' will work in practice.

The Foreign Secretary and I have gone to great lengths to keep Parliament informed, including over the summer recess. From September to the end of the year the Foreign Secretary and I expect to have appeared before Parliamentary Committees to answer questions on the Treaty on seven separate occasions. Parliament will be central to the ratification process - there can be no ratification without approval by an Act of Parliament.

I look forward to being able to respond in detail to the report in due course, including to the specific questions asked of the Government. In particular, as I have explained previously before the Committee, the Government notes that the Reform Treaty is significantly different to the old Constitutional Treaty in intent, form and substance. All 27 EU leaders have agreed that "the constitutional concept has been abandoned".

Notes to editors

European Commission President Barroso, 17 September 2007: "The Treaty, including the hard-fought UK red lines, is not the Constitution".

Hans-Gert Poettering, President of the European Parliament, 31 July 2007: "It is important to recognise that the situation in the UK is quite different to that in the other 26 member states.... The deal struck by Tony Blair in June means that - for better or worse - much of its substance will not apply in Britain".

Ross Allen

Head of Europe Team and Press Officer for the Minister for Europe