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16/06/2003
UUP Executive Committee support MEP EU call
The Ulster Unionist Executive Committee has supported a call from UUP MEP Jim Nicholson for a referendum on the new European Constitution.
Mr Nicholson, in his European report to the Executive Committee, told Members that the new constitution will bring about the most radical change to the EU since its inception and since the UK joined 30 years ago.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said: “The Constitution will have a legal personality in its own right and will now go to the European Council meeting in Greece next week for discussion by the 15 European Prime Ministers.
“I am extremely concerned that, under the Constitution, Europe can appoint a full time President and a high representative who would in effect become a foreign Minister for Europe as a whole. Other areas of concern are the loss of the veto which means that all European decisions will be decided under Qualified Majority Voting. What this means in layman’s terms is that National Parliaments would effectively become regional Parliaments."
Mr Nicholson's call follows the Government's recent rejection of the euro. Chancellor Gordon Brown claimed the euro had failed a five point test which would have seen the end the British pound.
Many critics of the euro claim entry would be another steps towards a United States of Europe leaving the affairs of the British public in the hands of European bureaucrats.
Mr Nicholson claimed that the new Constitution would move the UK further along this road.
“This Constitution will supercede all previous treaties and amendments. A great opportunity has been lost to de-centralise decision making in Europe, streamlining Europe and making it more efficient and effective.
"I have always been favour of co-operation with other European states but I don’t want to be dictated to from Brussels. This Constitution is too important and its consequences too far reaching not to be put to the people in a referendum," he concluded.
(MB)
Mr Nicholson, in his European report to the Executive Committee, told Members that the new constitution will bring about the most radical change to the EU since its inception and since the UK joined 30 years ago.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said: “The Constitution will have a legal personality in its own right and will now go to the European Council meeting in Greece next week for discussion by the 15 European Prime Ministers.
“I am extremely concerned that, under the Constitution, Europe can appoint a full time President and a high representative who would in effect become a foreign Minister for Europe as a whole. Other areas of concern are the loss of the veto which means that all European decisions will be decided under Qualified Majority Voting. What this means in layman’s terms is that National Parliaments would effectively become regional Parliaments."
Mr Nicholson's call follows the Government's recent rejection of the euro. Chancellor Gordon Brown claimed the euro had failed a five point test which would have seen the end the British pound.
Many critics of the euro claim entry would be another steps towards a United States of Europe leaving the affairs of the British public in the hands of European bureaucrats.
Mr Nicholson claimed that the new Constitution would move the UK further along this road.
“This Constitution will supercede all previous treaties and amendments. A great opportunity has been lost to de-centralise decision making in Europe, streamlining Europe and making it more efficient and effective.
"I have always been favour of co-operation with other European states but I don’t want to be dictated to from Brussels. This Constitution is too important and its consequences too far reaching not to be put to the people in a referendum," he concluded.
(MB)
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