IUROPBAI PARLIABIIT No. 32 February 1977 • Treat Parliament as elected'U For the target date of mid-1978 for European elections to be missed would be a major setback, European Commission President Roy Jenkins said in his inaugural speech to the European Parliament on January 11. "The responsibility on any country which impeded this development would be heavy and damaging." Meanwhile, the best contribution the new Commission could make would be to treat the present Parliament as it will the elected Parliament; and to inject into any policy proposal the serious and systematic consideration of whether or not it could gain majority support there. The new Commission, like its predecessor, has occasion. Whereas President Jenkins was entering on a designated one of its new members - Richard Burke of four-year term as head of the Commission and would not Ireland - as having special responsibility for relations with be able even to outline the new Commission's policy for Parliament. But Mr. Jenkins stressed that the lead in another month, Mr. Crosland wore both national and relations with the parliamentary arm of the Community Community hats simultaneously. Jenkins aimed to would be given by himself. Close links would be made with encourage, Crosland to cause to ponder. the political groups. "We are a coalition Commission, as is Externally, the Community is doing well, the Foreign wholly right, at least at the present stage of development. I Secretary argued, but internally there are three major shall therefore need to be a coalition rather than a partisan sectoral problems - agriculture, fishing, energy - while President. I shall be a partisan only for the unity of the divergence between the economically strong and the Europe," he added to widespread applause. economically weak among the Nine was a threat to the As a Minister from a member country which some Community itself. That the further enlargement of the parliamentarians suspect to be - if not impeding - at Community to include Greece, and eventually Spain and least hastening slowly towards European elections, British Portugal, is essential, Mr. Crosland had no doubt, for the Foreign Secretary Anthony Crosland the following day need to strengthen democracy outwei~hs the econ0mic was less inspiring than his former cabinet colleague. But problems for the Comunity that those countries Vl,OUld their roles differ, and they differed particularly on that bring with them.

At this point, however, he carefully quoted Article 95 of Cheaper wine? the EEC Treaty: "No Member State shall impose, directly Is Britain about to be in the dock at the Community's Court or indirectly, on the products of other Member States any of Justice? One thing is certain - new Irish Commissioner internal taxation of any kind in excess of that imposed Richard Burke has a fine sense of the dramatic. It was in directly or indirectly on similar domestic products." practically the last sentence of his reply to an oral question He went on: "These provisions have led the Commission on wine taxes, late on the evening of Thursday January 13, to open a procedure under Article 169 of the Treaty against that he launched his bombshell: the Commission decision the United Kingdom, where the relationship between the to proceed against the United Kingdom for taxing wine taxation of beer and of wine appears to be in conflict with more heavily than beer. The only pity, indeed, was the this principle." virtual absence of British Members, or even British press, Article 169 provides for an escalation of action. First, the to react. Commission delivers a "reasoned opinion on the matter, The question from French, Italian and German Christian after giving the State concerned the opportunity to submit emocrats had drawn attention to the high level of excise its observations". But then the State, within a period laid ties on wine in five countries: Denmark, the UK, down by the Commission, must comply with the opinion. elgium, the Netherlands and Ireland; and accused the If it doesn't, the Commission can bring the affair to the first four of having disregarded a Commission recommend­ Court of Justice. ation to reduce the duties in December 1975. But One key point, of course, is the interpretation of the recommendations are not binding, as Commissioner Burke word "similar" in Article 95: the British Government will no began by rerninding the House; and when he went on to doubt argue that only the negligible British production of explain that the first priority now was harmonisation of wine is involved. And there is also the ghastly thought VAT rather than excise duties, it seemed that the matter that the Article could be complied with by raising duties on was at an end. beer rather than cutting them on wine! Question Time for new Commission and Council Sherlock Jenkins network.) President Jenkins promised procedures, he replied: "it is a very The new Commission's. first testing by improvements, including closer co­ talkative, garrulous body". He would look Question Time on Tuesday, January 11, operation with the Parliament's own again at making meetings public, but began in an almost light-hearted vein: what information service; but, again, no feared that decisions would then take place . was the Commission doing, asked former Commission office in Belfast. dans les couloirs rather than in the Council Parliament president Cornelis Berkhouwer chamber itself. In any case, little Council (Lib/NL) to combat the "extensive and Aircraft noise time was taken up legislating; most of it • was really classical negotiation. James well-organised gang of criminals which The Commission is even now prepar_ing Spicer (Con/UK) went on to ask whether specialises in the theft of European art steps to combat aircraft noise, Council rules of procedure - last revised in treasures .. . ?" Ah! replied Commissioner Commissioner Lorenzo Natali replied to Brunner, if only productivity in other William Molloy (Soc/UK). A directive 1965 - might not be updated. I'll look at the matter, Mr. Crosland replied; musing sectors could equal that of the gang! would be proposed to limit plane move­ that the UN Security Council provisional Between 1970 and 1974 they had done ments at night, and to lay down stringent rules of procedure had never been revised 14,000 jobs in France and 34,000 in Italy. noise levels, in the first place at airports or, indeed, even finalised, in 30 years. Unfortunately, even though this was the used principally for recreational flying or "hour of Britain", it was not possible for tourist flights. As regards airports used the Commission to play Sherlock Holmes. more for business purposes, a longer-term Tunnels galore They had a report on the matter and would policy involving standards of construction, It would be a mistake, Mr. Crosland told do what they could. etc., was envisaged. Cornelis Berkhouwer (Lib/NU, to think "The classical god of thieves was also that there was renewed interest in the the god of commerce", commented Mr. Equal pay Channel tunnel, at least as far as the British Berkhouwer; the Commission could at least Government went. There had, in any case, publish the report. Good Lord, no!, Member States failing to implement the been "an enormous investment in other protested Wolfgang Schwabe (Soc/ Ger); Community's directive on equal pay will be forms of cross-Channel traffic". He fended that would only encourage them. And the taken to the Court of Justice, Com­ off with ease the desire of Gwyneth question ended in high good humour with missioner Henk Vredeling assured James Dunwoody (Soc/ UK) to have the matter suggestion from Tom Normanton Gibbons (EPD/lrl). Gwyneth Dunwoody treated urgently ("I am well aware of the (Con/ UK) that the whole thing was due to (Soc/UK) wanted him to go further: he and interest of the railwaymen of Crewe") and "high personal taxation" anyway. half his colleagues might resign to make way for women Commissioners. But he that of Bob Mitchell (Soc/UK) to make John O'Groats agreed with Vera Squarcialupi (Comm/It) sure the project remained buried ("without that things like that would take a social paying attention to the fact that Southamp­ It might be though that the new Italian revolution. ton depends largely on cross-Channel Commissioner for regional policy, Antonio shipping"). And assured those who asked Giolitti, would have a tough time following Child labour about tunnels under Alps that "we shall George Thomson, at least as far as naturally review with sympathy and interest Scotland goes; but he managed to slip in a A 14-year old boy, James Scott-Hopkins any proposal for any tunnel anywhere". plug for port development at John (Con/UK) told the House on Wednesday, O'Groats and some compliments about the January 12, shot himself in the South of Highlands and Islands Development Board Italy ''having been sold 18 months before .. in answer to a question from Russell And this is a quite common occurrence". Johnston (Lib/UK). Earlier, however, he The stories were true, admitted Italian could be no more definite than his Christian Democrat Ferruccio Pisoni; and predecessor was on the matter of whether Communist Vera Squarcialupi urged the regional and local authorities would in Commission to treat the. matter as urgent. If future be able to apply direct to Brussels for the facts are proved, replied Commissioner reg ional funds, rather than having to go Vredeling, something would be done. • through national governments. "I cannot take a longer stride than is possible." "A garrulous body" When it came to British Foreign Secretary Flak from a friend Tony Crosland's turn to make his maiden Commission President Roy Jenkins has appearance at Question Time, he was announced that he is personally taking immediately plunged into matters about responsibility for Commission information which, he confessed, his knowledge was policy; and may perhaps have been limited: reafforestation ("much in our regretting it after running into flak from his minds") and aid for young farmers ("I shall "first candid friend", Tom Ellis (Soc/ UK). do my best to understand the problems"). He hoped there would not be a repetition of But when Alex Fletcher (Con/UK) once the incident that very morning, when Mr. again brought up the matter of ending the Ton y Crosland Jenkins keynote speech had been available secrecy of Council of Ministers meetings to press only in English (see page 4). (" the practices of the other side of the iron Ombudsperson? (Indeed, even the English copies had only curtain" ) he was on firmer ground. The Will the Commission appoint a Community been available on a kind of old boy Council didn't exactly follow iron curtain 'Ombuds-person', Winnie Ewing (Ind / UK) asked Commissioner Jenkins, insisting in her supplementary on a "straight answer". She "should not press for a firm answer at Talking turlcey with America this stage, or she might tempt me to give In transatlantic trade, the US has always said it w as " absolutely necessary" for the the firmly negative answer which was given been in the black and the Community in the Commission to take up the problem of the when the question was last asked", replied red. Although trade relations " may in agricultural trade deficit. Altiero Spinelli Mr. Jenkins. Instead, on this occasion, the general be described as very good", in (Comm/ It) thought that, in general, Commission would " consider the matter some specific questions - particularly in Community-US relations had been bad "for seriously". agriculture and steel there are years", a view not shared by Commissioner Agricultural news " divergent aims". This was the gist of a Wilhelm Haferkamp, who thought resolution , to be sent to the US Congress problems which occur could be amicably The Commission intends to submit its farm presented by Pierre Bernard Couste dealt with. Earlier in Question Time, he had price proposals for the 1977 / 78 marketing • (EPD/ F) and passed by Parliament on shown as an example how the Community year " around the middle of February" , Tuesday evening, January 11. The had successfully curbed US exports of Commissioner Gundelach told the House resolution called for improvements in the turkey to the Community. But turkey on January 11 . This would leave time for trade balance and less protectionism, and exports had earlier doubled, said Mr . the Community's other institutions to take looked forward to a new climate of Couste. And what about brandy? he asked. the necessary decisions by April 1. relations with the incoming US The US had recently heavily increased their Later he explained that the "very messy administration. levy on brandy following only a 20 per cent system" of a partial ban on beef imports Among speakers during Parliament's increase in imports. would be replaced by a flexible levy system, debate, James Scott-Hopkins (Con/ UK) also on April 1. Stop this comedy Conflicting interpretations on Africa Despite the continuing argument over where the JET (Joint European Taurus) British involvement in Africa provided an something to be encouraged; others saw it thermo-nuclear fusion research project obvious stimulus for UK members to as a vehicle for Communist influence in should be, Parliament showed remarkable dominate the debate following Hendrik Africa. Rus~ell Johnston (Lib/UK) pointed unity on Wednesday afternoon, January Waltmans' (Soc/N L) oral question on a out the danger of denouncing apartheid in 12, when it attacked the Council for common policy concerning Southern South Africa and yet ignoring racial delaying a decision to set it up. The Council Africa on Wednesday January 12. The persecution in Uganda and other black of Ministers is, however, unlikely to decide House was unanimous in stressing the states. Jim Spicer (Con/ UK) accused the until February at the earliest, after research need for a policy which would promote the United Nations of employing double ministers have had further time to confer. peaceful attainment of majority rule in standards when they said they knew During Parliament's debate, British Under­ Southern Africa. Most members con­ nothing of refugees fleeing from Angola Secretary of State, John Tomlinson, sidered economic boycotts of South Africa into Zambia and Namibia. But Sir Geoffrey • futile, and there were conflicting inter­ de Freitas (Soc/ UK) introduced an speaking for the Council, warned of further delay and said that the Research Council pretations of what was happening in optimistic note when recalling Kenya's meeting scheduled for January 17 and 18 several African states - for instance successful transition towards independ­ had been postponed at French request. whether the Transkei-Lesotho border had ence, in which he himself played a However, Members of Parliament from all been closed. Mr. Crosland, among others, prominent part. sides wanted a quick decision and the saw the role of SWAPO in Namibia as Energy Committee chairman Gerd Springorum (CD/Ger) pointed out the dire consequences of further delay. The European elections latest message to the Council was clear, as Commissioner Guido Brunner put it: "Stop No doubt much to President Giscard from the Gaullist/Communist anti­ this comedy. Don't put off your decision d'Estaing's relief, and certainly to a elections platform - though it must be any longer". welcome from the European Parliament, noticed that the basis of the Court's ruling the French Constitutional Court finds that is that the Act "contains no provision "the Decision of the Council of the designed to alter the specific responsi­ Oil, oil, oil! European Communities of September 20, bilities and powers" of the Parliament, and "I had thought in my innocence", remarked 1976 and the Act annexed thereto" (that is, that elections "will not result in the creation Michel Cointat (EPD/F) when introducing a the decision to hold direct elections to the of sovereignty". debate on the dispute between the UK and European Parliament) "do not contain any Meanwhile, in Ireland, the Government France over oil drilling in the English clauses which are incompatible with the has announced the outline of its Bill to hold Channel (or "Manche", depending on your Constitution". That removes one plank the elections. In particular: viewpoint), "that the fact of both being in the same Community would make a 1. Th e system of election will be Single solution easier. But drilling has now Transferable Vote in four con­ stopped!" The dispute has been referred to stituencies one return ing 5 the International Court of Justice at The Members, one 4 Members and two Hague for adjudication, and Mr. Cointat 3Members. was worred that the judgement would take 2. Citizens of other Member States "300 years, like the one in · 1903". No, normally resident in Ireland will have replied Commissioner Brunner, judgement the vote there. was expected in something like 150 days. John Osborn (Con/UK), however, was Back in the United Kingdom, three concerned at the secrecy surrounding the prominent anti-marketeers - Enoch Powell • affair: what, after all, was the dispute (UUUC) , - held a press conference on about? No-one was forthcoming. Thursday, January 20, to put the \case against European elections. Enoch Powell contended that the elections would not be Six at one on terrorism held under a "uniform procedure", and would not therefore be in accordance with Sir Peter Kirk had the unusual role on the Treaty; while Brian Gould rested much January 14 of speaking for all six political of his argument on the belief that "no-one groups combined. The subject was wants the elections". But in this he is terrorism and the motive was the dismay - clearly wrong as the recently published at least - at the French court decision to Eurobarometer shows. In the United release Abu Daoud . Terrorism is not a Kingdom 57 per cent are now in favour of political matter, Sir Peter insisted, and European elections, only 22 per cent Article 1 of the European Convention for against. And 66 per cent believe the the Suppression of Terrorism makes that European election constituencies, Ireland elections of "great significance". clear. So for once the whole Parliament was united in urging the Community and other European governments to sign the international treaty, that the domestic laws Convention on January 24. Still tough for Adams do comply with it". Lest it be thought that Parliament was There has been no outside intervention at This was little enough comfort to Mr. critical only of France, Willie Hamilton all in the matter of Stanley Adams and the Adams in the public gallery. He, after his (Soc/UK) commented that Members did Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffman wife's suicide while he was under arrest, is not,know how the authorities would have La Roche, Commissioner Wilhelm now living in Italy on a succession of three­ acted in other countries in similar Haferkamp assured the house on January month visas, and is seeking British circumstances. But he was sure that inter­ 12. John Prescott (Soc/UK) in raising the nationality, which he held until Malta's national terrorism was "the most evil matter once more, had referred to reports independence in 1964. development of our time". of "certain pressures" being applied to the Commission by another country (than Bukovsky Bigger boots, please Switzerland). He concluded that, as the Commission had fined HLR 300,000 units of The Soviet writer Vladimir Bukovsky has A cri de coeur on behalf of people with account - "a very miserable su m" - for written to the European Parliament large feet came from Bob Mitchell acting illegally under the Swiss-Community thanking it for passing a resolution in his (Soc/ UK) on Friday December 14, when trade agreement, the Swiss should change defence last year. "Experience shows us", Parliament debated a Commission proposal their national laws under which Mr. Adams, he writes, " that resolutions such as yours for research into the footwear industry. an employee of H LR at the time he had of July 9 do have an effect on the Soviet • Those who took shoes of above average revealed his employers' activities, had been Government." He concludes by urging the size, claimed Mr .. Mitchell, were not being convicted for industrial espionage. Parliament to continue its study of "non­ catered for; he himself had been waiting for Lord Bethell (Con/ UK) contested this violent political prisoners not only in the a pair for over six months; and Frank last view as a dangerous precedent in Sovi~t Union, the country I know best, but Tomney (Soc/UK) also deplored the pre­ international trade. His compatriot was not also in other countries where fundamental occupation of the trade with fashion shoes. convinced: " it is an obligation, in signing an freedoms are suppressed". 'vragen' - to ask). discovered to the producers' horror that And now Mr. Vredeling is back in the the division bell (in the case of the Parliament as the new Dutch European Parliament, more a factory Unofficial Commissioner. No doubt the permanent hooter) might sound there at any time. staff is preparing the neat revenge of Could it be switched off in the library getting Mr. Vredeling to answer all his old only? No, apparently. Could it be questions himself switched off altogether? Yes, but ... Journal Rapid clearance was obtained from the No sex please highest authority and switched off it was during theprogramme'sduration, with the The coincidence of Roy Jenkins' arrival It sometimes seems as if the coming of result that voting in the Chamber was as President of the Commission with the European Community, far from extremely thin for some time. Tony Crosland's assumption of the eliminating the maze of documentation Council of Ministers chairmanship which the ordinary citizen has to read , fill • appears to have roused a dormant in or carry, has actually increased it: we Games people play neurosis among some French speakers. have not lost our own red tape, as it were; Up till 1973 their language was well we have gained eight others. The latest However disgruntled non-British ahead in use than all others, being - threat appears in European Parliament Members of the European Parliament may properly enough - the lingua franca of staff notice No. 76/13 where employees get about the importation of West­ the Community machinery. But the role of are asked to fill in an application form to minster-style politics, one must admit that English has steadily grown, and now obtain a new identity document. This they it livens things up. Parliament Rules looks likely to take a great leap forward. can then use to apply for yet other Committee chairman Willie Hamilton Not that the Commission controls the documents, including - wait for it - (who is himself no slouch at the judicious European Investment Bank, but it is being "celibacy certificates". use of procedure to put one over asked by Willy Dondelinger (Soc/Lux) Celibacy certificates!? Can this be some opponents) found himself at the receiving why the Bank has inserted an advertise­ new phase of the equality movement - if end at the start of Question Time on ment in French in a Luxembourg married people have marriage certificates, Wednesday January 12, when he arrived newspaper inviting tenders for sub­ single people should have celibacy a few minutes late to put the first question contracting work but stipulating that they certificates? Or does it really mean to Tony Crosland. President Spenale must be submitted in English. And the celibacy? attempted to call it later, only to run into Conservative objections: "I understand French - who, by nature, prefer the Anyway, these certificates are from your ruling", James Scott-Hopkins conspiracy to the cock-up theory of apparently issued by the "communal observed acidly, "that it doesn't matter history - saw their worst fears justified authorities" in Luxembourg, and must be whether one turns up in time or not". The when the new Commission President, on something to do with a campaign against affair was put to the vote, the Con­ taking office, preferred not to display to bigamy. To get the form, to get the servatives won - not surprisingly, since the press his comprehensible if far from document, to get the certificate, apply the Socialist Group was still in caucus. fluent French. To make things worse, Room4/69. when he addressed the European Indeed, this Socialist Group habit of Parliament for the first time on January over-running its time at morning meetings 11, the late completion of his speech Press riot is proving something of an Achilles heel meant that no translations were available The January sitting of Parliament was - and one at which Conservative whip for the press (see page 2.) remarkable, if for nothing else, for the James Spicer, at least, knows how to aim. Last month it enabled him to reverse a But there are corresponding perils in vast numbers of journalists and other defeat from the previous evening (see being prepared, as Anthony Crosland media men present. As Roy Jenkins rose " Trouble with numbers", EPR 31, page found out. His text was ready and waiting to speak on Tuesday, the gangway 4). And this month he tried the same ploy in six Community tongues. The press had behind the Communist Group looked like in a more spectacular manner. His report them, but also the spokesmen for the the Russian battery at Balaclava, in this calling for investment guarantees as a political groups who commented on his case, with television cameras rather than address. Hence Erik Blumenfeld quid pro qua for trade concessions to • guns (see p. 7). The press gallery was at developing countries came up last thing (CD/ Ger), speaking for the Christian one point verging on riot: quite apart from on Wednesday night; and it looked as Democrats, was able to note that the well over a hundred journalists trying to fit though a Socialist "wrecking" amend­ Foreign Secretary's draft text had into some 35 seats, certain powers had ment was going to go through. So, quick commented approvingly on the growth of allocated a large proportion of the places as a flash, our Jim calls for a quorum, and cooperation between the Nine in several to members of the diplomatic corps. has his own report counted out. The vote fields outside the writ of the treaties - Fortunately, the latter didn't turn up is postponed until the next morning. such as social legislation, education and (David Wood of 'The Times' has At the opening of business the next cooperation against terrorism. But confessed to becoming, pro tern, the day, the House presents an amazing between the drafting and the speaking Ugandan ambassador). had come the French release of Abu sight:rhis time the Socialists are there "in Daoud and the Foreign Secretary had force; but so are large numbers of others thought it wiser to remove the passage. - Liberals, Gaullists, Christian Demo­ crats. Tension mounts; even President The biter bit Spenale quits the chair to vote with the Socialists; a roll-call is demanded. And The last Parliamentary question for Spicer wins by 56 to 47. written answer tabled in 7976 is, on the Whatever one may say about West­ face of it, a simple attack on Commission minster games, nothing else has ever got dilatoriness. " How many written 103 Members of the European Parliament questions by Mr. Henk Vredeling, former in their seats first thing on a Thursday Member of the European Parliament, has morning! the Commission not yet answered?" demands German Socialist Horst Gerlach, Le roi s'amuse and "is the Commission prepared to answer the outstanding questions and It would naturally be improper to suggest forward the answers to Mr. Vrederling?" that the personal tastes of Commissioners There is more to it than meets the eye. influence Community policies. It is there­ fore pure coincidence that only a week When Mr. Vredeling, a Dutch Socialist, Jenkins in botanical setting was in the Parliament between 7958 and after claret-loving Roy Jenkins - now 7973 he achieved a considerable Later, Roy Jenkins was interviewed for apparently nicknamed "King John XV" in reputation as a thorn in the Commission's Eurovision in the Parliament library, Brussels after the way the French side as far as written questions went, (though some viewers might have pronounce his name - took over, his easily winning the all-time record for the thought it the local botanical gardens, colleague Richard Burke has announced number tabled - one thousand six such appeared to be the profusion of action against Britain for taxing wine more heavily than beer (see P. 7) • hundred and fifty - and earning himself exotic plants). A few minutes before the nickname: Henk Vra elin Dutch ro ramme was due to be in it wa K.P.G.

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