Press Release - 13th June 2008

GLOBAL VISION CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT TO POSTPONE THIRD READING OF EU TREATY BILL

In the light of the Irish people's likely rejection of the proposed EU Lisbon Treaty, Global Vision calls for the UK Government to postpone the final third reading of the EU Treaty Bill – currently scheduled for next Wednesday in the House of Lords – in order to allow time for proper consideration of the changed circumstances before the Bill is passed.

Lord Blackwell, Chairman of Global Vision, said:

“The Irish vote, if confirmed, will kill off this Treaty in its current form. The UK Government should take this opportunity to think again about what relationship we want with Europe.  At the very least it should no longer push ahead with ratification of the Treaty in the UK, but take the time to consider the consequences of the Irish vote.”

The detailed arguments in favour of postponing any final vote on the Treaty in the UK are:

(1)  Following the Irish rejection (if confirmed), there is no chance of the Treaty being ratified and adopted by all Member States within the next six months and there is therefore no reason for the UK to rush to pass an act which may indeed never have effect.

(2)  The rejection of the Treaty by one signatory now creates an entirely new situation in which the advisability of agreeing to the current Treaty in its current form needs careful consideration. For example, if the Treaties were now to be renegotiated again the UK might be in a stronger negotiating position if it had not already ratified the existing position. We might, in particular, wish to join in any new protocols developed to make the Treaty more acceptable to the Irish.

(3)  It is also possible that Parliament might want to reconsider the desirability of a UK referendum after reflection of the impact arising from the Irish vote.

(4)  For all these reasons it would be inadvisable for Parliament to rush ahead with completing the passage of the Bill only five days after the Irish result rather than taking advantage of the time now available for further analysis and reflection on the changed circumstances.

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Notes to editors 

1.  The third reading of the Bill in the House of Lords - the final stage before the Bill receives Royal Assent - is due to take place on Wednesday, 18^th June. It is expected that an amendment will be tabled for the House to vote on whether to postpone third reading.