MPs discuss their new EU role

Members of national parliaments across the EU met on 7-8 May in Brdo, Slovenia to discuss their new role in the EU legislative process, as they will have a greater saying when the Lisbon Treaty comes into force.

The discussion about the new strategy that national MPs should adopt was held during the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the EU (COSAC), a biennial meeting in which six members from each parliament discuss EU matters.

The Lisbon Treaty gives national parliaments a bigger saying, as the EU Commission is required to notify parliaments of a proposed law, and they have 8 weeks to discuss it.

More important is the introduction of so-called yellow card and orange card. If one third of national parliament oppose a proposal, the Commission has to decide whether to maintain or modify it (yellow card). But if half of the national parliaments are against, the Commission has to withdraw its proposal (orange card).

In particular, parliaments have the opportunity to stop a legislative process at a EU level if they feel that the matter could be better dealt at a national level (the principle of subsidiarity).

COSAC said in a statement it welcomed “the strengthened role of national parliaments as laid down in the Treaty of Lisbon, which enables their better involvement in the EU decision-making process”.

Janez Jansa, the Prime Minister of Slovenia, which holds the rotating Presidency of the EU until June, said: “In terms of enhancing efficiency and promoting democracy the Lisbon Treaty promises further progress. It will give additional decision-making levers to the representatives elected directly by the citizens of Europe.”

“In even more areas, at European level, you will have the right and the obligation to participate in co-decision. (…) The extent to which the role of national parliaments is enhanced by the Lisbon Treaty will depend largely on yourselves.”

Portugal chooses symbolic day to ratify the Treaty

Portugal chose May 9, "Europe Day", to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, which was signed in the Portuguese capital last December. The ceremony symbolically took place on the 58th anniversary of the "Schuman Declaration", which in 1950 posed the basis for a "supranational European institution".

During the ratification ceremony, Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva said: "The treaty constitutes a step forward towards the construction of a more unified Europe, one more in solidarity."

MEP Joseph Daul, Chairman of the main group in the EU Parliament - the European People's Party, or EPP-ED - referring to the Portuguese ratification said in a statement: "The success of this vote, with opposition only from the Communist Party and the Bloco de Esquerda, is the guarantee of unequivocal support from Portugal for the reforms laid down in the Treaty, and demonstrates the participation of this country at the forefront of the new stages of European construction."

The Treaty was approved by the Portuguese Parliament in April with a large majority (208 voted in favour, 21 against), but needed the President's signature to be ratified.

One day before Portugal, on May 8, Latvia and Lithuania also ratified the Treaty, bringing to 13 the number of ratifications already occurred.

Portugal joined the European Union when it still was called European Economic Community (EEC) together with Spain, in 1986. Euro-enthusiasm in the country grew with the election of Jose' Manuel Barroso, a former Portuguese Prime Minister, as President of the EU Commission.

British High Court: EU referendum an "arguable case"

A millionaire businessman and major donor for the Conservative party is challenging British PM Gordon Brown for not giving the UK the possibility to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Stuart Wheeler, 73, won on May 2 his battle to challenge the government's decision after it had promised a referendum on the EU constitution.

He claimed that there was no material difference between the late constitution and the reformed treaty and therefore the government should keep its promise to hold a referendum.

He said in his website:"The Labour Party, as well as the other two main parties, made an unambiguous promise that they would call one. They should keep that promise. The Treaty is immensely important and so, irrespective of whether people think it should be ratified or not, they should be allowed a vote on it."

In his judgement at the High Court Mr Justice Owen decided that permission to apply for judicial review should be granted because the case is "arguable". The hearing will take place on 9 and 10 June.

Since last December, the Labour government insisted that the Lisbon Treaty is not the same as the Constitutional Treaty. In the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website (FCO), it stated that "EU’s 27 leaders have agreed that the constitutional concept has been abandoned."

It said: "There are substantial differences between the two Treaties, in form and in content. The Constitutional Treaty would have replaced all the existing Treaties and effectively re-founded the EU. The Lisbon Treaty takes the same approach as all previous amending Treaties. It amends the existing Treaties which Parliament has ratified and will not have constitutional characteristics."

Italy's President: ratification is a "priority"

Giorgio Napolitano, the President of the Italian Republic, said on April 29-30 he expected a quick ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the new Italian government, which will be sworn in next week, after the centre-right coalition won April elections.

Speaking in Graz, Austria, at an informal meeting with EU heads of States, Mr Napolitano said: “I'm sure the new government will have as a priority the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.”

Newly-elected prime minister Silvio Berlusconi defeated his left-wing rival Walter Veltroni after early elections were called, following the unexpected collapse of his predecessor's leftist government, led by Romano Prodi who was President of the previous EU commission.

Mr Napolitano is known for being strongly Euro-enthusiast: he was an MEP in the 1990's and his speeches about the EU have always been very European-oriented.

Last year, Mr Napolitano said in a conference: "When I was an MEP, I had the opportunity to know how the EU parliament in Strasbourg works, and how important its role is in the developement of a stronger union between citizens, institutions and European peoples. This union protects the common values of dignity, equality, solidarity and justice."

An "impartial" website for the Irish ahead of June referendum

Irish voters now have one additional instrument to make up their mind ahead of the June referendum that will decide whether Ireland will approve or reject the Reform Treaty.

A new website, http://www.lisbontreaty2008.ie/, was launched on April 20 by an independent body, the Referendum Commission, to ensure that voters are "informed about the issues involved in the forthcoming referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon 2008."

The website says that "others will argue for a Yes or a No vote, but the Referendum Commission's role is to do neither". Its aim, as in every other referendum that Ireland has held in the past years, is to explain what this referendum is about and to encourage people to vote.

On April 28, the chairman of the Referendum Commission, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill, said in a press conference: "Already, there has been considerable public discussion of the Lisbon Treaty, with people on both sides of the debate making their arguments. Many people say there is confusion over what the Treaty would actually do."

He said that in the midst of "heated exchanges", the Referendum Commission would give "an independent, neutral and clear interpretation of what people are being asked to vote upon."

The new website explains in five pages what the 300-page Treaty is about, how the European Union functions at present and how its activities will change if the Treaty comes into force.

It also explains who is entitled to vote, how to register and what to do before the vote.

In May, 2 million copies of the Refrendum Commission's handbook will be distributed to to all voting households, explaining the main issues in just 14 pages.

Czech Senate postopones ratification to seek Constitutional Court approval

The Czech Senate on April 24 decided to postpone the vote on the Reform Treaty, asking the Constitutional Court to see whether it was in line with Czech law.

The ratification, which was scheduled for April, was delayed after a majority of 48 in the 81-member Senate decided to ask for the opinion of the highest national Court, to see if the Treaty would conform to the country’s constitution.

Senators asked for an assessment of six points, including whether the change from a unanimity vote to a majority vote in many areas of the EU legislation would be in line with the Czech Constitution.

They also asked if the Czech Republic would have a legal obligation to observe the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, wich is integral part of the Lisbon Treaty.

Sona Paukrtova, senator from the opposition party Open Democracy Club (KOD) said that there was no reason to call on the Constitutional Court.

She said that the ruling party, the Civic Democrats (ODS), had insisted to have the Treaty assessed, but the opposition was in favour of a quick ratification.

A poll released in April showed that more than half of Czech voters were in favour of the Treaty. According to the poll, released by STEM, of 1,341 Czech citizens surveyed, 53 percent said that their parliament should ratify the Treaty.

Irish minister says Treaty would secure taxation and neutrality

Ireland will not have its neutrality and tax sovereignty affected if it ratifies the Lisbon Treaty, Irish foreign minister Dermot Ahern TD said on April 17.

Speaking at the Forum on Europe, Mr Ahern welcomed the EU Commission president Jose' Manuel Barroso’s visit to Dublin and said that the Irish national interest would indeed be secured by the Treaty.

He said: “We believe that the Reform Treaty sets up the Union to continue to take the interests of all Member States - large and small - into account.”

“It recognises our common interests while at the same time respecting vital individual national interests, such as taxation and defence in our case, where decisions can only be taken by unanimity.”

His party, Fianna Fail, the largest in Ireland and currently part of the coalition government, is leading the campaign for a Yes vote.

But Patricia McKenna of the People’s Movement, which campaigns against any measures that further develop EU integration, called his statement “false and misleading” and said that Barroso’s visit was a “gross interference by the EU institutions in Ireland’s internal affairs”.

She said: “The visit is not only inappropriate, but clearly designed to give Irish voters a false sense of security in relation to this issue of taxation and the comments by the Commission president are clearly stage managed by PM Bertie Ahern, to reduce concern on one of the most significant aspects of public concern on the Lisbon Treaty.”

The Lisbon Treaty extends qualified majority voting to new policy areas and requires less unanimity votes on issues such as fighting climate change, energy security and emergency humanitarian aid to hot-spots around the globe .

However, unanimity will be retained in areas including tax, foreign policy, defence and social security.

10,000 farmers protest as Barroso visits Dublin

Some 10,000 farmers protested in Dublin on April 17, during the visit of EU Commission President Jose' Manuel Barroso, who was in Ireland to promote the EU treaty.

Farmers intended to mark their opposition to EU Commission plans that could penalise Irish agriculture, and namely the policies of EU Commissioner for trade Peter Mandelson.

Worrying about a falling support for the Treaty showed in a recent poll, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern urged farmers to vote Yes during the June referendum.

He said: "It would be a disaster for this country not to pass it. It would have repercussions that would severely damage us, and the biggest beneficiaries are the agricultural community and they should be the ones leading this campaign for it."

The Irish Farmer Association (IFA) President Padraig Walshe addressing the protest said that Mandelson's plans would destroy the Irish beef industry and put 50,000 farmers out of business.

He said: "The Lisbon Treaty Referendum is on the 12th of June, but for farmers, the referendum decision comes on the 20th of May. That's the date Mandelson will be in Geneva and he has a decision to make."

"If the sell out goes ahead on the 20th May in Geneva, then I will not ask farmers to support a Commission that has destroyed the future of our farming and food industry. That is my clear message to President Barroso."

In January Walshe had recommended a YES vote.

During his speech on April 18 at the University of Cork, Mr Barroso implicitly responded when he said that Ireland would be able to preserve its economic model if it backed the Treaty.

He said: "Agriculture will be part of the modernization agenda of the Union. We will build a European agriculture for the future, which respects the social and economic well-being of the farmers; guarantees the right of Europeans to have quality food; and maintains a prosperous rural life, with strong rural communities and an efficient and working rural economy, which is a core part of the European way of living."

Merkel to promote Treaty in Ireland, as voters remain undecided

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was in Dublin on April 14 to discuss the benefits of the Lisbon Treaty, shortly after a national poll had showed that 60 percent of Irish voters are still undecided about whether they will back the paper, which was signed in Lisbon last December.

According to a poll published last week by the Irish Sun, which surveyed about 1,000 Irish people, 28 percent said they would vote in favour, 12 opposed it. Only 6 percent declared they fully understood the changes that the Treaty would bring, whereas 40 percent said they had little undestanding and 25 percent no understanding at all.

Chancellor Merkel, speaking in Dublin, encouraged the voters to approve the Treaty, saying that it would be beneficial "even to sceptics". She assured that there would be no superstate in Europe, and that the new rules were to benefit Europe as a whole, but Ireland and individual states as well.

Irish PM Bertie Ahern, who will leave his post in May to fight allegations of financial irregularities, has backed the Treaty and assured that his country will gain from it. His successor next month has pledged to continue to highlight the benefits of a "yes" vote before the June referendum.

Speaking last week before Merkel's arrival, and ahead of Commission President Barroso's visit to Ireland on April 17, Ahern said: "The number, and stature, of our European visitors this week and next is testimony to our standing in Europe. (...) It is a good time to be Irish. And it is a great time to be an Irish European."

Most politicians support the Treaty, although some organisations are campaigning vigorously against it. One of them, Libertas, speaking about Merkel's and Barroso's visits, has denounced a "foreign interference".

Libertas Chairman Declan Ganley said that their visit "intended to boost support for the Lisbon Treaty" and would be conducted in the "most message-controlled manner possible".Ireland will be the only EU member state to have a referendum on the Treaty, which in the intentions of its makers should simplify the functioning of the EU institutions.

Austria ratifies Lisbon Treaty amid protests

The Austrian Parliament ratified on April 9 the Lisbon Treaty, despite some protests which were held in the country by some minority groups demanding a referendum.

The treaty was approved by a large majority, with 151 votes in favour and 27 against the new charter, which would make EU legislation simpler and EU institutions more effective once it comes into force next year.

The Social Democratic Party (SPOe), the People's Party (OeVP), both in the "grand coalition" government, and the Green Party all backed the treaty, agreeing that it would represent a progress for Austria.

However two small far-right opposition parties voted against the treaty, saying it would endanger national sovereignity, and have campaigned since last December, when EU leaders signed the new document in Lisbon.

Some 1,000 people staged a protest the day before the ratification in the streets of Vienna, asking for a referendum.

The Parliamentary session went on for eight hours before the ratification itself took place in the evening. Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, during the parliamentary debate, highlighted that the ratification represented an "important, necessary and right step" for his country, according to the International Herald Tribune.

Austria is the eighth EU member state which has ratified the treaty, as of now. In the last ten years, the country has seen a wave of Euro-scepticism that was fomented by far-right leaders, including current governor of Carinthia and former leader of the Austrian Freedom Party Chancellor Jörg Haider, known at home and abroad for his extremist views.

FEATURE: The new European Council President

Last week another potential candidate as European Council President appeared in the news. Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern would join other big names for the post, including former British PM Tony Blair, and current EU Commission President Jose’ Manuel Barroso. But do we know exactly what this post is? And what kind of man – or woman – we need to do this job?

The new Presidency is one of the innovations of the late constitution, and has been kept in the Reform Treaty. A politician would be chosen to become President of the European Council - i.e. the EU governments - and would be in charge for two and a half years (renewable for one more term), instead of the current system, which has a rotating presidency changing every six months.

The benefits are clear: it would ensure more continuity to the actions of the Council, and would give a "face" to the EU. It is however still difficult to understand what role he or she will practically play, and in what it will differ from the other newly created post, which many have refused to name as "EU Foreign Minister" but which will be, in practise, very close to that.

Mr Ahern hasn't declared his intention yet, but has a good card to play. If his government succeeds in winning the referendum to pass the Lisbon Treaty, this will give him enough credibility and legitimacy.

Among other candidates, Tony Blair has been supported by French PM Nicolas Sarcozy, but his chances to succeed have decreased. Many politicians don’t think that the post should be given to a country that hasn't joined the Euro, doesn’t take part in the Schenghen agreement and has secured too many opt-outs on the Treaty. An on-line campaign against the nomination of Blair is being carried out.

The other possible candidates include Jose' Manuel Barroso, the head of the EU Commission, but whose mandate ends only in July 2009; Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker, who is backed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and is an experienced EU politician; and Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who wants to reopen the debate in Denmark about joining the Euro.

The game, therefore, is still open, and anyone of these, or someone else, has enough chances to succeed.

British MPs reject referendum on Lisbon Treaty

The UK Parliament on March 5 turned down the Tories’ attempt to hold a referendum on the Lisbon treaty, which substituted the EU constitution after French and Dutch voters rejected it in national referenda in 2005.

With a narrow majority of 311 votes against 248, MPs rejected the amendment to the EU treaty Bill and decided that the new treaty will instead be ratified through parliamentary vote.

The debate on the treaty has flamed UK parliamentary works for the last months, and a growing pressure has been mounted on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to hold a referendum after he signed the treaty in Lisbon last December.

David Cameron, the Tory leader, accused Mr Brown of breaking the promise his government made in 2005 that British citizens would be given the chance to have their say on the EU constitution.

But Mr Brown denied that. He said that the new treaty may not be compared to the late constitution and a referendum wasn’t needed any longer, as the UK government had already assured Britain opt-outs in vital areas and national sovereignty would not be put at risk.

Yesterday’s vote, however, showed how divisive the issue still is among British MPs. 29 Labour MPs voted in favour of the amendment, while three Tories said they were against a referendum.

Among Liberal Democrats, despite their leader Nick Clegg ordered to abstain from a vote, several voted in favour of a referendum and three frontbenchers resigned.

The treaty is now expected to be ratified by next summer.

What are the main changes of the Lisbon Treaty

The Lisbon Treaty will change how the EU works. It needs to be ratified by all member states to come into force. Ireland is the only country having a referendum.

Here is a short summary of the main changes:

- it amends existing Treaties to work more effectively in an enlarged EU of 27 states;

- it creates a permanent President of the Council (2,5 years renewable once, instead of the current 6-month rotation) giving greater continuity to the EU policies. Britain's former PM Tony Blair was one of the candidates, although some countries oppose this;

- it creates a High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (merging the existing posts of external relations Commissioner and High Representative for common foreign and security policy). Some argue this is the same post as the European Foreign Minister that had been rejected in the EU Constitution by French and Dutch voters in 2005;

- it reduces the size of the Commission from 27 to 15 (no longer one Commissioner for each country, in a move intended to make the Commission work more effectively). Some coutries are afraid that losing for one term their Commissioner will give them some disadvantages.

- it reduces the number of MEPs to 751;

- it increases areas where MEPs have their saying to approve EU legislation alongside national Ministers in the Council (known as codecision);

- it gives national parliaments a bigger saying in the making of the EU legislation. If one third disagrees with the Commission's proposal, this is sent back for revision (yellow card). If the majority of parliaments is against, it can be rejected (orange card). Some argue that these provisions are not enough to involve national parliaments in the EU legislative process;

- it simplifies rules on enhanced cooperation, giving EU countries the opportunity to work more closely on certain issues, without affecting other EU countries which do no want to do so;

- it incorporates the Charter of Fundamental Rights into EU law, so that EU institutions respect those rights. However the Charter doesn’t extend the powers of EU institutions and the UK has an opt-out on this part;

- the Qualified Majority Voting system will be extended in many new areas (immigration, police cooperation, climate channge, but NOT in foreign policy, tax and defence, where unanimity is needed) ;

- there will be a new system for voting, called Double Majority Voting (55 per cent of member states representing 65 per cent of EU legislation) which will begin in 2014.