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A new Treaty framework for a European CommonwealthGlobal Vision advocates a new looser arrangement for the UK within Europe that preserves the benefits of free trade, and allows continued cooperation between governments in areas which are mutually beneficial - for example environmental protection and transport links - while allowing Britain to opt out of the project of political and economic union and the mandatory EU wide legislation that goes with it. However, by pioneering such a relationship we hope that the UK can also provide a model that other countries can follow - transforming the current EU into a ‘European Commonwealth' that continues to welcome new members into a club of democratic nations, cooperating and working together on areas of mutual interest. Those countries within the European Commonwealth that wished to continue to participate in the project of European political and economic integration - under the existing EU Treaties and new draft constitution - would be free to do so, without imposing their model on others. The new Treaty Framework In order to give effect to this new relationship we need to replace the existing EU Treaties with a new Treaty Framework. As a basis for discussion, a proposed outline framework for the Treaty establishing a ‘European Commonwealth' is as follows: 1. All current members of the EU would automatically be members of the European Commonwealth, with membership also open to members of the EEA and EFTA 2. The European Commonwealth would operate as a free trade area, adopting the rules currently set out under EFTA 3. Those current members of the EU which opted to ratify the new Treaty terms establishing a ‘Constitution for Europe' would be bound by the terms of that Constitution, including the established EU acquis. This new Treaty would replace all existing EU Treaties. 4. Those current members of the EU which chose not to ratify the Treaty terms establishing a ‘Constitution for Europe' would not be bound by the terms of that Constitution, nor by the terms of the existing EU Treaties which it replaced or by the established EU acquis (other than where they chose to enact components through their own national legislation). Accordingly they would not participate in the institutions of the EU defined under the Constitution. 5. Individual members of the European Commonwealth which are not signatories to the Constitution would have the option of adopting provisions to comply with single market regulations in individual sectors or as a whole (for example, adopting the terms currently set out under the EEA and as currently applied to Norway) 6. Individual members of the European Commonwealth which are not signatories to the Constitution could negotiate participation in joint programmes with the EU on terms which would define specific governance arrangements for those programmes and the basis for budget contributions ( as, for example, agreed by Switzerland in the areas set out below) 7. The European Commonwealth would be overseen by a Council of Members. All changes to the Treaty establishing the European Commonwealth and any changes to the provisions which effect all members would require to be agreed by unanimity of all member states. Agreeing areas of future cooperation The precise areas and scope of areas where the UK might wish to negotiate participation in common programmes under (6) above would clearly require detailed consultation and evaluation. However the bilateral arrangements with the EU currently agreed by the Swiss are likely to provide a useful starting point. The Swiss arrangements fall into two tranches.
Further details on these bilateral arrangements are available from http://www.europa.admin.ch/. Norman Blackwell, March 2007 |
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