Corbett welcomes new treaty
Richard Corbett MEP, Labour's spokesman on Constitutional Affairs in the European Parliament , today welcomed the agreement by EU leaders at the European Council summit on proposals for a new EU Reform treaty to govern the 27-member EU.
Richard said: "The Constitutional Treaty has been replaced by a set of pragmatic reforms to the European Union that will help it operate and deliver on policy more effectively and will improve parliamentary scrutiny and democratic accountability. This is a result to be welcomed."
Responding to those who have demanded a referendum on the new treaty, Richard added:
"Britain has never had a referendum to ratify an international treaty, and it is nonsensical to demand on one that does modest things like changing the length of the European Council presidency from six months to 30 months.
"The Conservatives' call for a referendum on a treaty that changes far less than either the Single European Act or the Maastricht treaty smacks of more desperation from a party that has no credibility on Europe ."
For further comments from Richard on the Reform Treaty click here to read his blog - http://corbett.pir2.info/blog/
The Reform Treaty will be drafted at an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) convening in July and will consist of a series of amendments to the existing EU treaties, but will not replace them.
Key measures in the Reform Treaty will include:
- Abandoning the term "constitution"
- Extending the use of Qualified Majority Voting in the Council of Ministers while maintaining national vetoes in key fields of national interest
- A merge of the two existing EU spokesmen on Foreign Affairs into one post of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
- All EU legislation will be subject to approval by both the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament
- The six month rotating presidency of the European Council will be replaced by a president elected by EU leaders for a two and a half year term.
more information
Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP
- phone 0113 245 8987
- e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk
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