Yes indeed - the Devil is in the Detail. The Eurphilkes know that and that is why they like to bore us all with so much detail. I thought the Masstricht Treaty was just a bit of innoucuouis house-keeping - until I read it and saw what it actually meant. A summary of the main proposals that appeared in the original constitution - which was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands - and which also appear in the outline of the amending treaty agreed at the EU summit- follows: Changes to EU institutions • Single legal personality for the European Union - this means that the European Union can enter into treaties and enact legislation without having to obtain the consent of the member states. • EU President - elected by the member governments to represent and preside over the EU. This will mean that in effect Her Majesty the Queen and the British Prime Minister will be subordinate to the EU President. • High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - this is an EU Foreign Minister in all but name • EU Diplomatic Service - which means that many UK embassies and consultates may close with consequent effect on protection of British citizens and interests abroad • Majority voting in some areas of foreign policy • The end of one Commissioner per country - which will mean that some member states will no longer be represented in the all-important EU Commission • A European Public Proscutor with powers to prosecute throughout the EU. Social security and the economy • EU given more powers over social security, including defining the rights of non-EU nationals residing in a member state • New EU powers over employment policy - this may particulary affect the UK's more open and succesful employment market • New EU powers over public health Charter of Fundamental Rights • Charter becomes legally enforceable. Britain would have an opt-out but critics fear it could be overturned in courts. Home Affairs • New EU powers to harmonise civil and criminal laws and legal procedures. This is a problem for the UK and Ireland because of the very different basis of our legal system, based on common law, rather than on the Covil Code systems of other countries. • EU to define criminal offences and set minimum sentences - this is a massive interference in the internal affairs of the member states. • Extra powers for Europol - the EU police force. • European Court of Justice given new powers over asylum and immigration - this is a massive interference in the internal affairs of the member states. • Extra powers for Europol Foreign and Defence Policy • Commitment to creation of a "common defence policy" - this could mean the end of an independent British defence policy and the British armed forces • "Structured co-operation" between core of member states with the most powerful military presence, such as Britain and France Vetoes • End of vetoes on transport, energy, space, sport and science policies The Euro *A commitment to adopt the euro throughout the EU - this is a massive interference in the internal affairs of the member states and will mean that Britain will lose control of foreign exchange rates, monetary policy, inflation and interest rates.

Entire Thread

Topic	Date Posted	Posted By
Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	23/06/07 18:27:00	David Giles
Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	23/06/07 18:42:00	Jerry Makides
Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	23/06/07 18:46:00	Jan Jarvis
Re:Re:Ireland to hold Referendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	23/06/07 18:49:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:Ireland to hold Referendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	23/06/07 19:06:00	Helen Fogarth
Re:Re:Re:Ireland to hold Referendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	23/06/07 19:10:00	Jan Jarvis
Re:Re:Re:Re:Ireland to hold Referendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	23/06/07 19:17:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ireland to hold Referendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	23/06/07 22:02:00	Jan Jarvis
media manipulation	23/06/07 22:18:00	Jerry Makides
Re:media manipulation	25/06/07 11:18:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ireland to hold Referendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	25/06/07 12:23:00	David Giles
Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	24/06/07 09:24:00	Peter G Boardman
Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	24/06/07 10:21:00	Peter John
Re:Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	24/06/07 22:03:00	Richard Greenhough
Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	25/06/07 12:36:00	Will Watson
Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	25/06/07 13:46:00	Richard Greenhough
Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	25/06/07 13:54:00	Helen Fogarth
After Iraq, can we trust Blair anymore ?	25/06/07 14:28:00	David Giles
Re:After Iraq, can we trust Blair anymore ?	25/06/07 14:49:00	Jonathan Bingham
Re:Re:After Iraq, can we trust Blair anymore ?	25/06/07 17:09:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:After Iraq, can we trust Blair anymore ?	25/06/07 17:24:00	Will Watson
Re:A form of democracy	25/06/07 17:44:00	Richard Greenhough
Re:Re:A form of democracy	25/06/07 17:56:00	Will Watson
Re:After Iraq, can we trust Blair anymore ?	25/06/07 17:50:00	John Mc Cann
Re:Re:After Iraq, can we trust Blair anymore ?	25/06/07 17:53:00	Richard Greenhough
Re:Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	25/06/07 14:31:00	Will Watson
Re:Re:Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	25/06/07 14:37:00	Fraser Pearce
A shift in sovereignty	25/06/07 14:54:00	Fraser Pearce
“The proposals that we dare not present to them directly”	25/06/07 15:11:00	Fraser Pearce
“Psychological terrorists” and the “new form of democracy”	25/06/07 15:29:00	Fraser Pearce
Britain has not had a Referendum on Europe since 6th June 1975	25/06/07 18:12:00	David Giles
Re:Britain has not had a Referendum on Europe since 6th June 1975	25/06/07 19:53:00	Guy Lambert
Same old conservatives	26/06/07 09:15:00	Stephen Thornton
It's not about the Conservatives	26/06/07 11:27:00	Fraser Pearce
Re:Same old conservatives	26/06/07 13:19:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Same old conservatives	26/06/07 14:00:00	Stephen Thornton
Re:Re:Re:Same old conservatives	26/06/07 16:53:00	David Giles
Re:What we voted on in 1975	26/06/07 14:19:00	Richard Greenhough
The devil's in the detail	26/06/07 16:40:00	Fraser Pearce
It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	26/06/07 20:38:00	David Giles
Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	26/06/07 21:56:00	John Mc Cann
Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	26/06/07 22:20:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	26/06/07 23:01:00	Jerry Makides
Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 08:57:00	Guy Lambert
Responding to Jerry: “The end of democracy”	27/06/07 12:17:00	Fraser Pearce
Responding to Jerry: “totalitarianism”	27/06/07 12:27:00	Fraser Pearce
Responding to Jerry: “Loss of freedom”	27/06/07 12:36:00	Fraser Pearce
Responding to Jerry: The EU, prosperity and peace in Europe	27/06/07 12:54:00	Fraser Pearce
Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 12:59:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 13:17:00	Fraser Pearce
Re:Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 15:55:00	Guy Lambert
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 18:02:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 18:53:00	Fraser Pearce
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 21:39:00	Guy Lambert
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 21:47:00	John Mc Cann
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 21:52:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 22:03:00	John Mc Cann
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:It maybe called a Treaty but its the same Constitution	27/06/07 22:54:00	Guy Lambert
Legal opinion wanted	27/06/07 23:16:00	Peter John
Re:Legal opinion wanted	27/06/07 23:40:00	John Mc Cann
Re:Re:Legal opinion wanted	28/06/07 09:57:00	Fraser Pearce
Re:Re:Re:Legal opinion wanted	28/06/07 10:52:00	Fraser Pearce
Re:Re:Re:Re:Legal opinion wanted	28/06/07 12:36:00	Colin Jordan
The threat to the British Constitution and Parliament	28/06/07 17:46:00	David Giles
Re:The threat to the British Constitution and Parliament	28/06/07 22:33:00	Guy Lambert
Re:Re:The threat to the British Constitution and Parliament	29/06/07 00:05:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Legal opinion wanted	29/06/07 11:08:00	David Giles
Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Legal opinion wanted	29/06/07 12:22:00	Fraser Pearce
A Good Week to Bury Really Bad News	29/06/07 17:59:00	David Giles
Labour Party calls for Referendum	30/06/07 17:22:00	David Giles
Trade Union calls for Referendum	11/07/07 20:24:00	David Giles
Re:Trade Union calls for Referendum	16/10/07 22:02:00	David Giles
Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	04/07/07 19:35:00	Peter G Boardman
Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	04/07/07 20:36:00	Helen Fogarth
Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	04/07/07 22:25:00	Will Watson
Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	05/07/07 08:25:00	Peter John
Re:Re:Re:Ireland to hold Refendum on new EU Treaty - should the UK ?	05/07/07 18:46:00	David Giles
EU to pay Wine Producers to give up producing bad wine	06/07/07 18:14:00	David Giles
For Guy: France, Germany and the stability pact	12/07/07 11:19:00	Fraser Pearce
Re:For Guy: France, Germany and the stability pact	12/07/07 12:22:00	Guy Lambert
Britain's Seat on the UN Security Council	05/08/07 20:07:00	David Giles
Re:Britain's Seat on the UN Security Council	05/08/07 20:29:00	Colin Jordan
Re:Re:For Guy: France, Germany and the stability pact	06/08/07 15:12:00	David Giles
Can we trust Gordon Brown on this issue ?	15/10/07 18:36:00	David Giles
Referendum	17/10/07 09:22:00	Brendan McCarthy

Forum Home