Informal European Council Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Cabinet Office

Informal European Council

David Nuttall Excerpts
Tuesday 31st January 2012

(12 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
David Nuttall Portrait Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con)
- Hansard - -

My constituents warmly welcome the Prime Minister’s determination to protect our interests in Europe. Will he explain how the United Kingdom will, in practical terms, actually be able to prevent those countries that sign up to the fiscal union treaty utilising the European Commission and the European Court of Justice in a way that damages UK interests?

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The guarantee that they will not damage UK interests is this. First, the treaty itself is clear that it has to be in line with EU law; it cannot override it, and it cannot get into areas such as the single market. Secondly, as I have said in answer to previous questions, if the institutions do things that are not permitted, there can be a challenge, including a legal challenge. But, above all, Britain is protected because, although others are going ahead with this treaty outside the European Union, we are not part of it.