Comments on: Do we need a Europe treaty anyway? http://blog.prospectblogs.com/2007/12/13/do-we-need-a-europe-treaty-anyway/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:01:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Dominic Brett http://blog.prospectblogs.com/2007/12/13/do-we-need-a-europe-treaty-anyway/#comment-4875 Dominic Brett Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:39:00 +0000 http://blog.prospectblogs.com/2007/12/13/do-we-need-a-europe-treaty-anyway/#comment-4875 Well, yes, in some ways Lisbon was required - not because of the legislative powers it extended to the supranational EU - but because of the partial remedy it offered for the democratic deficit. Lisbon did four main things to bring the voter and Brussels closer together. It allowed a million signatories on any particular issue the right to petition the Commission to initiate law (along the lines seen in Switzerland). It made express provision for countries to leave the EU and set out a timetable for them to do so. It said the Council of government ministers from the 27 countries would henceforth meet on the record, so we'd all know whether our continental neighbours or our own cabinet member had stitched us up in negotiations... And it said the appointed head of the Commission would have to be of the same political hue as the majority grouping in the elected European Parliament. This, of course, was why the Eurosceptic lobby in this country hated it and why these democracy-enhancing provisions got so little mention amid the half-truths and downright lies about more of our sovereignty being sold down the river. Incidentally, if it's sovereignty we're worried about, then the stink should have been created first with the Single European Act in the 1980s and particularly with Maastricht in the early nineties. Lisbon was small fry by comparison. Well, yes, in some ways Lisbon was required - not because of the legislative powers it extended to the supranational EU - but because of the partial remedy it offered for the democratic deficit. Lisbon did four main things to bring the voter and Brussels closer together. It allowed a million signatories on any particular issue the right to petition the Commission to initiate law (along the lines seen in Switzerland). It made express provision for countries to leave the EU and set out a timetable for them to do so. It said the Council of government ministers from the 27 countries would henceforth meet on the record, so we’d all know whether our continental neighbours or our own cabinet member had stitched us up in negotiations… And it said the appointed head of the Commission would have to be of the same political hue as the majority grouping in the elected European Parliament.

This, of course, was why the Eurosceptic lobby in this country hated it and why these democracy-enhancing provisions got so little mention amid the half-truths and downright lies about more of our sovereignty being sold down the river.

Incidentally, if it’s sovereignty we’re worried about, then the stink should have been created first with the Single European Act in the 1980s and particularly with Maastricht in the early nineties. Lisbon was small fry by comparison.

]]> By: Winnie-the-Pooh http://blog.prospectblogs.com/2007/12/13/do-we-need-a-europe-treaty-anyway/#comment-3200 Winnie-the-Pooh Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:28:11 +0000 http://blog.prospectblogs.com/2007/12/13/do-we-need-a-europe-treaty-anyway/#comment-3200 With all due respect to Mr Goodhart and the noted pro-EU academic.. In light of the recent BBC Newsnight v Policy Exchange spat over the possibility of fabricated expense claims ; is there any way in which British taxpayers can be reassured that the pro-EU figures supplied to the emminent researcher herself are entirely correct ? With all due respect to Mr Goodhart and the noted pro-EU academic.. In light of the recent BBC Newsnight v Policy Exchange spat over
the possibility of fabricated expense claims ; is there any way in which British taxpayers can be reassured that the pro-EU figures supplied to the emminent researcher herself are entirely correct ?

]]> By: St Trinians http://blog.prospectblogs.com/2007/12/13/do-we-need-a-europe-treaty-anyway/#comment-3197 St Trinians Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:23:54 +0000 http://blog.prospectblogs.com/2007/12/13/do-we-need-a-europe-treaty-anyway/#comment-3197 The Late Mr Brown This seems an informed, kind and generous interpretation of events. However, a recent statement from The Countryside Alliance reads : "Yesterday we signalled our intention to take our challenge to the Hunting Act to the European Court of Human Rights .......unfortunately the ECHR is unlikely to hear the case for several years " Even to we English harrowed by a mere politician, let alone a Scot , surrendering more of our envy-of-the-world sovereignty to the EU , Mr Brown's failure to show up on time seems insupportably rude Doubtless some others amongst the foreign gentlemen present also had pressing previous engagements - but managed to observe : " public service must be preferred before private passions "(ER.I) Perhaps he was feeling a little shy ? After all , he promised us a Referendum . Going back on his word might have been compounded by global press photographs advertising the event including his grin ? Either way, the negotiating entry level of Eurosceptics accepting any European integration was that we might be less likely to bash each other up , save the odd bit of football buffoonery , in order to avoid an action replay of WWII Mr Brown's smug attitude to the ink well of integration , including not bothering to ensure any explanation nor apology was effectively circulated to the other heads present before the actual event began, was both uncivilised and distinctly un-British OF course we must not rule out the possibility that perhaps Mr Brown is a secret Eurosceptic, and is hoping that Europe will reject us ? The Late Mr Brown

This seems an informed, kind and generous interpretation of events.
However, a recent statement from The Countryside Alliance reads :

“Yesterday we signalled our intention to take our challenge
to the Hunting Act to the European Court of Human Rights
…….unfortunately the ECHR is unlikely to hear the case
for several years ”

Even to we English harrowed by a mere politician, let alone a Scot , surrendering more of our envy-of-the-world sovereignty to the EU ,
Mr Brown’s failure to show up on time seems insupportably rude

Doubtless some others amongst the foreign gentlemen present also
had pressing previous engagements - but managed to observe :
” public service must be preferred before private passions “(ER.I)

Perhaps he was feeling a little shy ? After all , he promised us a Referendum . Going back on his word might have been compounded by
global press photographs advertising the event including his grin ?

Either way, the negotiating entry level of Eurosceptics accepting any European integration was that we might be less likely to bash each other up , save the odd bit of football buffoonery , in order to avoid an action replay of WWII

Mr Brown’s smug attitude to the ink well of integration , including not bothering to ensure any explanation nor apology was effectively circulated to the other heads present before the actual event began, was both uncivilised and distinctly un-British

OF course we must not rule out the possibility that perhaps Mr Brown is a secret Eurosceptic, and is hoping that Europe will reject us ?

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