Council of the European Union: UK Presidency Debate
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Lord Cunningham of Felling
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Council of the European Union: UK Presidency
Lord Cunningham of Felling Excerpts(8 years, 4 months ago)
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Lord Bridges of Headley
I thank the noble Baroness for those points. Those are exactly the kinds of things that we need to take into consideration.
Lord Cunningham of Felling
My Lords, why would the United Kingdom not want to take up the presidency—not just of the whole of the European Union but of each Council of Ministers? It would give us significant influence in those Council discussions over a six-month period which will be crucial to the negotiations for Britain leaving the European Union. It would be madness not to take up this opportunity.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The noble Lord speaks with great experience—far more than I have had after only 36 hours in the job. I absolutely heed what he says but, as I said, that is exactly why we are taking our time to consider these matters.