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December 14, 2007
Europe: European Reform Treaty Signed
Yesterday, Gordon Brown signed the European Reform Treaty at Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon. The leaders of the 26 other EU nations had signed three hours earlier and David Miliband, Britain's Foreign Secretary, signed the document in Brown's absence.
The British government says on one of its websites that "The UK won't lose control of its borders." This is a lie. Over the weekend, last minute negotiations over the clauses in the 700-page document have meant that failed asylum seekers will now have the right to apply to Strasbourg to appeal the decisions made in individual nations, thus allowing them more time to reside in Europe.
Only Ireland will have a right for a referendum. Though most of the Treaty is in essence a European "constitution", and in 2005 Labour was elected on a manifesto promise of holding a referendum on any European constitution, Brown refuses to countenance such a move.
Between January and March, over 20 days the UK parliament will discuss the Treaty, and in late March MPs are expected to give their final votes on ratification. The final deadline for all EU member nations to submit ratification is December 31, 2008, and on January 1, 2009 this treaty, called by then the Lisbon Treaty, will come into effect. The treaty officially aims to streamline the running of Europe and make communications more efficient between the 27 member states. It also suggests a President of the EU should hold office for two and a half years. There are some suggestions that Tony Blair may be the first president under the eventually-ratified terms of the treaty.
Comments at the Telegraph are hostile, and there are expected to be problems for Brown when parliament returns. Already some Labour MPs are against the treaty.
A pro-treaty account (pdf document) can be found here. There is still some confusion as to what the 700 document actually contains, and Brown has claimed he has gained some opt-out clauses which he calls "red lines". How effective these will be at maintaining British sovereignty is questionable and only in a court of law will the answers be made available. By which time, the treaty will already be in effect.
Only with a referendum will the entire nation of Britain be able to make a decision. In Ireland, 60% of voters do not know what the treaty entails, and thus a referendum will provide them with that information. SHould they vote "no", the treaty will not be implemented.
This morning I gave a radio interview with Mark Carbonaro of KION-AM in Monterrey, California on the subject of this Treaty, its ramifications for Gordon Brown and how the US should be wary of similar measures implemented by the North American Union. That radio interview (20 minutes long) can be heard HERE
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at December 14, 2007 9:05 PM
Comments
If this isn't decided by referendum, it'll be decided on the streets. And once that sort of thing starts who knows where it will end.
Posted by: Sir Henry Morgan ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.westernresistance.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 15, 2007 6:11 PM
In the Netherlands a majority want a referendum, ditto Germany, ditto France, ditto Denmark, dito UK. Indeed, across the EU as a whole, something like 75% of the population all want a referendum each country.
Why does anyone think our European politicians are so dead set against it?
Posted by: Sir Henry Morgan at December 15, 2007 6:20 PM
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