The European Union - What happens on 14th November 2014? The full treaties of the European Union are brought together in the document: Consolidated Texts of the EU Treaties as Amended by Lisbon. The most important change after Lisbon is that from 1st November majority voting comes into force. We have already seen majority voting in action with the election of Jean-Claude Juncker as President of the EU Commission. Majority voting has other serious effects, for instance, we become locked in to the EU. How will the changes in the EU that come into force on 1st November 2014 affect you? The Treaty of the Functioning of the EU confers ultimate power on the EU The Treaties define some areas of government as under the exclusive control of the EU and others as under EU control but optionally delegated to States. The following areas are under the exclusive control of the EU: customs union, the establishing of the competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market, monetary policy for the Member States whose currency is the euro, the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy, common commercial policy. The Treaty defines the following areas as controlled by the EU but with authority delegated to member states if the EU so desires (see Note 1). This includes almost every aspect of government: a) internal market; (b) social policy, for the aspects defined in this Treaty; (c) economic, social and territorial cohesion; (d) agriculture and fisheries, excluding the conservation of marine biological resources; (e) environment; (f) consumer protection; (g) transport; (h) trans-European networks; (i) energy; (j) area of freedom, security and justice; (k) common safety concerns in public health matters, for the aspects defined in this Treaty. (Quoted from Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union, TITLE 1: Categories and Areas of Union Competence. Article 4. But see Note 1 below for the meaning of the term shared competence). The Union may take initiatives to ensure coordination of Member States’ social policies. The Union shall have competence to carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of the Member States. The areas of such action shall, at European level, be: (a) protection and improvement of human health; (b) industry; (c) culture; (d) tourism; (e) education, vocational training, youth and sport; (f) civil protection; (g) administrative cooperation. Check the Treaty if you do not believe this, the Treaty assigns ultimate control of almost all aspects of government to the EU. Britain can be disciplined if it acts alone If the EU decides that Britain is violating Article 2 of the Treaties by not: Implementing EU Law appropriately Respecting human rights as defined by the EU such as respecting the right to free movement within the EU then according to Article 7 the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may decide to suspend certain of the rights including the voting rights of the British representative in the Council. However, although Britain would have penalties imposed on it there would be no escape: The obligations of the Member State in question under this Treaty shall in any case continue to be binding on that State. In other words errant member states will be disciplined and will be forced to remain in the EU to accept their punishment. Groups of countries are authorised to form gangs: According to Article 20 Enhanced cooperation [between groups of states] shall aim to further the objectives of the Union, protect its interests and reinforce its integration process. Most of the major countries have DETERMINED to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe and are working towards political union. Yes, have signed a treaty to work towards political union, to form a megastate. Free movement of labour: All EU citizens shall have the the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States; 1. Freedom of movement for workers shall be secured within the Union. 2. Such freedom of movement shall entail the abolition of any discrimination based on nationality between workers of the Member States as regards employment, remuneration and other conditions of work and employment. Workers are empowered: (a) to accept offers of employment actually made; (b) to move freely within the territory of Member States for this purpose; (c) to stay in a Member State for the purpose of employment in accordance with the provisions governing the employment of nationals of that State laid down by law, regulation or administrative action; (d) to remain in the territory of a Member State after having been employed in that State, subject to conditions which shall be embodied in regulations to be drawn up by the Commission. The Treaties are designed to lead to a common defence policy: According to Article 24 the Union’s competence in matters of common foreign and security policy shall cover all areas of foreign policy and all questions relating to the Union’s security, including the progressive framing of a common defence policy that might lead to a common defence. According to Article 34 the UK will no longer be an independent member of the UN Security Council but will be a representative of the EU on the Security Council. In Article 42 it states Member States shall make civilian and military capabilities available to the Union for the implementation of the common security and defence policy, to contribute to the objectives defined by the Council. If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The European Court of Justice becomes the highest court in all EU Countries. Withdrawal from the EU As of the 1st November 2014 States must obtain permission to leave. It states in Article 50 that withdrawal from the EU shall be concluded by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament. A State will be able to leave unilaterally 2 years after giving notice but this is unlikely to continue (see the section above on disciplining errant States). Qualified Majority Voting In the Council of Ministers the votes are divided thus:
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 23:12:44 +0000