PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
EUROPEAN RECOVERY AND THE MAASTRICHT TREATY (16 December 1992)

That this House commends the statement adopted by the first Leaders' Conference of the new Party of European Socialists held in Edinburgh immediately prior to the European Council under the excellent chairmanship of the Leader of the Opposition; welcomes the priority given in the conference statement to a substantial European economic recovery plan and regrets the disappointing proposals subsequently made by the European Council; notes the unanimous conclusion of the socialist leaders that Europe's economic and other problems require, for their solution, 'the rapid completion of the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty and its implementation'; recognises that this is in accordance with the view of the October 1992 Labour Party Conference that 'the Maastricht Treaty, while not perfect, is the best that can currently be achieved'; and calls upon the British Government to endorse the Social Chapter of the Treaty so that passage of the European Communities (Amendment) Bill can receive the wholehearted support of both sides of the House at the earliest opportunity.

Sponsored by:
Lord Mandelson (Labour)