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Debunking the Eurosceptic myths about the EU Reform Treaty


1. Britain is surrendering vital powers over fundamental issues of sovereignty to Brussels

Not really. Britain has maintained control over our key national policy areas including justice and home affairs, social security, tax, foreign policy and defence. The treaty will not transfer power on issues of fundamental importance.

2. Britain will lose or have to vacate its seat on the United Nations Security Council

No. The treaty will include a declaration saying it will not affect the way EU member states conduct their foreign and defence policy, including at the UN. The UN Charter says international organisations such as the EU cannot be members of the UN.

3. An "EU foreign minister" will control Britain's foreign policy

Wrong. At present the EU has both a high representative for the common foreign and security policy and a commissioner for external relations. The proposed high representative for foreign affairs and security policy will combine the two existing roles. The high representative will be appointed by and report to EU member states. Britain will keep its veto.

4. British embassies will be replaced by an EU "diplomatic service" and EU embassies

Not true. The European External Action Service (EEAS) will not replace the UK diplomatic service. It will simply provide better co-ordination and sensible support to the high representative, including through existing European Commission offices overseas.

5. Britain will lose control of its borders

No. It will be able to choose whether or not to participate in EU action on issues such as immigration, asylum and combating international terrorism and organised crime.

6. There will be a new 'president of Europe'

Incorrect. At the moment each EU member state takes it in turns to be president of the EU for six months. This has caused confusion and a lack of continuity. Under the treaty, elected national leaders will choose someone to be president of the European Council for two-and-a-half years. This will allow national leaders to set the political direction of the EU more consistently and coherently.

7. The treaty will force us to free prisoners from jail

Not true. No criminals in the UK will be released because of the treaty.

8. The treaty will reduce national parliaments to the level of regional assemblies

No. The treaty seeks to increase the role and powers of national parliaments, which will for the first time have a direct role in deciding whether EU legislation is necessary.

9. The treaty is the same as the Constitutional Treaty rejected in 2005

No. The EU's 27 leaders have agreed that the constitutional approach has been abandoned. The constitutional symbols have been removed from the treaty – the EU flag, hymn and title of foreign minister.

This shows that the mythical "superstate" is just that – a myth. The Government claims it has secured a deal that protects key aspects of sovereignty.

For example, Britain can carry on participating in joint efforts to combat cross-border terrorism and organised crime, but will keep control of our borders. Instead of establishing a new constitutional basis for the EU, the treaty amends previous EU treaties.

This is what the Maastricht, Nice and Amsterdam treaties did. They were not "constitutional" and Britain did not hold a referendum on any of them.

10. The treaty will leadto British workers becoming second-class citizens

No. The rights and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights already exist in UK law – they are not new. They apply now both to EU institutions and to all member states when they implement EU law.

The Government claims it has won a legally binding protocol that guarantees the charter does not extend the powers of any court – European or domestic – to strike down UK laws.
Independent

Commons battle looms on EU treaty

EU leaders reached an agreement at Lisbon
Ministers face a battle to get the EU treaty through Parliament after it was agreed by European leaders in Lisbon.

Gordon Brown says he has secured a deal which protects the national interest but Tory leader David Cameron say he is treating Britons "like fools".

The Tories say they will step up their campaign for a referendum and fight the treaty all the way in the Commons.

The treaty has to be ratified by all EU parliaments next year, before coming into effect in 2009.

The Times reported that the prime minister has set aside up to three months to ratify the treaty, and had briefed colleagues to expect a protracted battle starting in the New Year.

The government says its "red lines" - which it says are opt outs on key areas like human rights, tax and benefits, foreign policy and justice - will mean there is no significant transfer of power to Brussels.

'Significant transfer'

Speaking in the early hours, after an agreement was reached on the new treaty at an EU summit in Lisbon, Mr Brown said: "The red lines have been secured. The British national interest has been protected."


They are just treating people like fools and they will suffer because of this, because they are breaking a really significant promise
David Cameron, Conservative leader

He said it was "now time for Europe to move on and devote all our effort to the issues that matter to the peoples of Europe," such as economic growth and environmental protection.

But Mr Cameron told BBC Breakfast the treaty would mean a "significant transfer of power" to Brussels and he believed it should be put to the public, rather than just being scrutinised by MPs.

"I believe in Parliamentary democracy, I think our MPs should be the ones that scrutinise legislation," he said.

"But when it comes to the question of how we are governed as a country, who runs the country, I don't think members of Parliament have the right to transfer that power away without asking the British people first.

"And that's why there should be a referendum when we are talking about these things."

Maastricht debate

He said that most EU leaders believed the treaty was "pretty much the same" as the EU constitution - on which the Labour government had promised a referendum, before it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.


Here in Lisbon we have agreed a treaty that makes the European Union a country
Nigel Farage, UKIP leader

"They are just treating people like fools and they will suffer because of this, because they are breaking a really significant promise."

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he "fully expects" there to be a vote on whether to hold a referendum when MPs debate the treaty.

Several Labour MPs - including former Europe Minister Keith Vaz and former minister Gisela Stuart, who helped draw up the original constitution - also want a referendum, setting up the prospect of a backbench rebellion.

The Conservatives are also expected to use every Parliamentary tactic at their disposal to block the ratification process, in a repeat of debates on the Maastricht treaty 15 years ago.

'No debate'

The Liberal Democrats are likely to vote with the government on the question of a referendum - although much will depend on their new leader, who will be elected in December.

Earlier in the Commons, the Tories fired the opening salvo in their battle against ratification, with former minister Christopher Chope accusing Mr Brown of "selling out" British interests and calling for an immediate prime ministerial statement.

Deputy speaker Sylvia Heal said it was "entirely" up to the government whether they chose to make a statement to the Commons or not. Mr Brown is due to address MPs on Monday.

UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has, meanwhile, repeated his call for a referendum on the whole question of British membership of the EU.

"It is over 30 years since the British people were asked. When they were asked in '75, they were told that we could be part of a European Community that was about free trade and friendship," he told Today.

"Well, here in Lisbon we have agreed a treaty that makes the European Union a country. A country called Europe now exists once this treaty goes through - there is no legal debate or argument about that."

EU governments are due to formally sign the reform treaty - which has been negotiated over two years since the constitution was rejected - in December.

Over the next 12 months it would then be ratified by the individual parliaments, to come into effect on 1 January 2009.
BBC