Czech Lower House approves Lisbon Treaty
The BBC report is linked here. The margin was depressingly large in favour, democracy it seems is to be a thing of the past for Europe.
President Vaclav Klaus has issued a statement hoping that the Upper House of the Czech Parliament will show a more responsible attitude, read here. Hear, hear to that!
Britain's signed Lisbon Treaty, never graced by the promised referendum, remains in Rome with no moves from any authority in Britain to rectify this outrage.
Fittingly the Bank of England is about to start printing unresourced sterling banknotes.
Next stop governance under the Civil Contingencies Act?
Labels: EU Lisbon Treaty
posted by Martin at 10:39 AM
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Die Zeit journalist: Lisbon Treaty is “unique in history” and does not increase EU democracy
Speaking at a conference at the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI) yesterday, Jochen Bittner, Brussels Correspondent for German newspaper Die Zeit, said “the Lisbon Treaty is something unique in history as it intervenes in the sovereignty which has formerly been reserved for national governments”. He said “the proponents’ argument that the Lisbon Treaty makes the EU more democratic and more efficient is to be rejected, not only by German lawyers”.
He said “the argument that the Lisbon Treaty makes the EU more democratic by extending the European Parliament’s powers is not really valid. The EP is not a proper watchdog for its citizens… The level of scrutiny the EP provides cannot be compared with the scrutiny of a national parliament”.
He criticised the EU’s so-called ‘orange card’ system, whereby a group of national parliaments can object to an EU proposal on the grounds of subsidiarity, saying it was “not practical”, partly because the ultimate decision about breaches of subsidiarity lies with the European Court of Justice. He said: “ECJ judges are appointed by European Ministers, which would be impossible on the national level. Also, ECJ jurisdiction is regularly in line with the European Commission… One may have doubts whether this court can be seen as a watchdog of accountability.”
Bittner said he objected to the Treaty’s “provisions on the EU’s infringements of civil liberties” and criticised the “vague” Charter of Fundamental Rights, “Especially regarding the freedom of expression”. Regarding the upcoming judgement of the German constitutional court, he said he did not expect the Treaty to be rejected, but said the Court will request strict national implementation measures. “The judges will step on the brake of European integration, which will be a decisive political signal”, he said
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