Lisbon Treaty almost through the door whilst UK slumbers

Lisbon Treaty faces final parliamentary hurdle

Source: LONDON (AFP)

The European Union’s new treaty, crushingly rejected by Irish voters last week, faced its final parliamentary hurdle in Britain Wednesday, despite claims that it is already dead.

Members of the unelected upper chamber the House of Lords were to debate the Lisbon Treaty for the third and final time, as part of the ratification process that Prime Minister Gordon Brown insists must continue.

The treaty, which aims to streamline EU institutions after recent expansion eastwards, was approved by members of the lower House of Commons before last Thursday’s referendum in Ireland.

All 27 member states have to ratify the treaty for it to take effect, but there have been increasing calls for it to be scrapped after Ireland’s “no” vote.

Britain could, in theory, ratify the treaty and have it on the statute book in a process called Royal Assent by 11:00 am Thursday, just before EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss the ramifications of Ireland’s rejection.

“We will seek Royal Assent on Thursday… assuming approval by the Lords,” said a Foreign Office spokesman Tuesday.

The procedure is “usually quite brief,” he added, but could be complete before Brown travels to Brussels for the late-afternoon start of the two-day summit.

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ANH comment:

Ten days ago South Koreans turned out in their thousands to protest against the importation of a food item—US beef.  Today in the UK there wasn’t even the faintest murmur from the public at the fact that the EU Lisbon Treaty was leaping the final hurdle towards potential ratification in the House of Commons on Thursday 19th June.  The same Lisbon Treaty that the Irish public said a resounding ‘NO’ to on 12th June 2008.

Below is an extract from the Lisbon Treaty text that gives some idea of how further powers will be conferred to the European Commission, effectively infringing our democratic and human rights:

Article 175 [9d]

The European Commission and its President

1. The Commission shall promote the general interest of the Union and take appropriate initiatives to that end. It shall ensure the application of the Treaties, and measures adopted by the institutions pursuant to them. It shall oversee the application of Union law under the control of the Court of Justice of the European Union. It shall execute the budget and manage programmes. It shall exercise coordinating, executive and management functions, as laid down in the Treaties. With the exception of the common foreign and security policy, and other cases provided forin the Treaties, it shall ensure the Union’s external representation. It shall initiate the Union’s annual and multiannual programming with a view to achieving interinstitutional agreements.

2. Union legislative acts may be adopted only on the basis of a Commission proposal, except where the Treaties provide otherwise.

3. Other acts shall be adopted on the basis of a Commission proposal where the Treaties so provide.

4. The Commission’s term of office shall be five years.

    

5. The members of the Commission shall be chosen on the ground of their general competence and European commitment from persons whose independence is beyond doubt.

If the South Koreans can expend so much energy protesting against having to swallow US beef, surely the UK can  lumber to its feet when asked to swallow the loss of democracy?