REFORM TREATY OPPOSITION GUILTY OF MISREPRESENTATION
“Opponents of the Reform Treaty have made claims which misrepresent the content of the Treaty”, said Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for European Affairs.
He was commenting on the claim by Mr. Declan Ganley of the Libertas Institute, that the Treaty can be further amended without the need for a referendum.
Minister Roche said: “The relevant article of the Treaty makes it clear that any future move to confer additional powers on the EU, or to decrease its powers, would have to be ratified in accordance with the constitutional requirements of each Member State.
“There is provision in the Treaty for moving some policy areas from unanimity to majority voting or for extending the powers of the European Parliament to participate in the legislative process, but in these cases any national parliament could prevent this from happening. It would also require a unanimous decision of the European Council -with each national Government having a veto- and the consent of the European Parliament. This provides a very effective ‘double lock’, even in cases where no new powers are being conferred on the Union. Contrary to what has been claimed, the Treaty specifically provides that this arrangement does not apply to matters with military or defence implications.”
Now that the Reform Treaty has been signed, Minister Roche said that the Government was launching its campaign to inform the Irish public about the Reform Treaty and its importance for Ireland. A pamphlet on the Treaty is being launched today, and a copy can be found on the dedicated website; www.reformtreaty.ie. Copies of the pamphlet can also be requested by calling a lo-call number: 1850 211602.
ENDS
13th December 2007
Note for Editors
Normally, agreement by the Member States in an Intergovernmental Conference will be preceded by a Convention made up of representatives of national governments and parliaments, the European Commission and the European Parliament”.
Amendments to the Treaties relating to internal policies and actions of the Union, but not increasing the Union’s competences, may be amended in the absence of an IGC or Convention, but nonetheless will only take effect once approved by all Member States in accordance with their constitutional requirements.