TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 183

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bting shall take place by qualified majority without the Commission having made a proposal. In these cases decisions are approved only if 43 votes are cast in favour by at least 6 members. In those cases in which a simple majority is provided for, the majority will, of course, be 6 out of the 10 States.

71. The European Commission is the body responsible for executing the decisions of the Council, for putting forward proposals which take into account the interests of the Community as a whole, and for safeguarding these interests. In an enlarged Community, the European Commission would be composed of 14 members, two members each from Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom and one from each of the other states. The members of the Commission are nominated by the member Governments. There would be an appropriate British contribution to the staff of the Commission. This staff is, in effect, the civil service of the Community.

72. The European Parliament's present role is largely consultative, though it has certain powers of control over the Commission. In the European Parliament the number of members will be as follows:

Germany

Italy

Belgium

Luxembourg

Ireland

...

36

36

France United Kingdom

14

Netherlands

6

Denmark

10

Norway

36

36

14

10

...

10

Members of the European Parliament which meets at Strasbourg are nominated by the respective national Parliaments.

73. The Economic and Social Committee is also a consultative body, consisting of representatives from employers, trade unions, professions, farmers, etc. Membership of the Economic and Social Committee will be as follows:

Germany Italy Belgium Luxembourg

...

Ireland

24

24

France United Kingdom

12

Netherlands

6

Denmark

9

Norway

24

...

24

12

...

9

9

74. Provisions have been agreed for equal representation of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in the organs of the European Investment Bank.

75. On enlargement, English would be an official language, together with the present official languages French, German, Italian and Dutch.

76. The arrangements outlined above will ensure that the United Kingdom will be able from entry to play a full part in the management and future development of the Community. It has been agreed that in the period between the signature of the Treaty of Accession and its entry into force joint procedures will be established to ensure that decisions taken by

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