Dear Editor,
Jeremy Allison's claims (letter, January 29) that EU decision-making is undemocratic would indeed be disturbing if they contained an ounce of fact. However, his short letter is riddled with distortions.
He states that 80 per cent of our laws originate from the EU. This is pie in the sky - the most recent research paper by the House of Commons library put the figure at around 9 per cent.
The notion that 100 per cent of our laws will be decided if the Lisbon Treaty is passed is absurd since the treaty will not extend the number of policy areas where the EU can act.
His claim that neither the European nor UK Parliaments have the power to amend or reject proposed EU legislation is flat-out wrong. The adoption of EU legislation requires the approval of the Council of Ministers, composed of ministers from elected governments accountable to national parliaments, and the approval of our elected MEPs in the European Parliament. The latter amend European legislation far more frequently than the Commons amends Government Bills.
That Mr Allison and his ilk feel the need to resort to inaccuracies to bolster their claims shows the inadequacy of their arguments.
Yours,
Richard Corbett
Labour MEP for Yorkshire & Humber
Blenheim Terrace, Leeds
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