updated at end of page
"europa" - will the bull be a vatican bull or a
pagan god?
( http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/glance/index_en.htm is the
european union's website)
A comical, but
serious aspect of this Treaty is that it is not allowed
publication within the eu until all member states have
accepted it - thus we know that Governments have already
accepted this treaty without reading it, acknowledging,
we may suppose, that its contents are exactly the same,
as rumoured, as the previous treaty that was rejected.,
or else revealing their extreme gullibility
VOTE "NO" TO EUROPEAN TREATY?
At a meeting promoted by Kathy
Sinnott MEP, a member of the Independence Democracy Group
in the offices of the European Parliament a large
gathering of people, and surprisingly many had travelled
far to attend, from Kerry, Kilkenny and Donegal, listened
to Jens-Peter Bonde MEP(Denmark), Christophe Beaudouin,
lawyer(France) and Klaus Heeger, lawyer(Germany) who were
introduced by Kathy Sinnott herself and Sharon
Ellui-Bonici, PR representative(Malta)on the 13th
January.
Evidently, in recent months several members of the
Council and Commissioners have made verbal slips or
inadequate explanations of the updated Treaty of Lisbon .
Tony Blair uttered the word "Federal", hastily
altered to Community to describe the new Europe.This Independent group have a bus and have
travelled to various European countries to break open the
nutshell of difficulties that surround the inexplicable
and second text of the Lisbon Treaty, now offered to our
Governments and ourselves for consideration and
acceptance. They have done this, because they are
outraged that no Member States except Ireland are being
allowed to vote in referendums, despite a previous
rejection of the Treaty by both France and Netherlands.
The original text, EU authorities say, has now been
amended. These latter populations have both had a change
in Government since they rejected the Treaty and find
that they have now been over-ruled - and they appear to
have accepted this rule without demur. We are also
informed of the astonishing fact that this Treaty is only
going to be published for MEPs and the general public
after it has been accepted into the Rule of Law. Many
categories of the original treaty document have now been
categorised by changed names and details to distract from
the original as understood by the European Parliament,
and it is clear that the Commisioners are afraid of
Referendums being held throughout Europe. Unfortunately
we do not know how these governments have been bought
off.
Comparisons of the two texts primarily astonish by the
second, a text of abnormal length, jammed into a smaller
"product" by reducing the font/font. Religion and
tolerance was mentioned in the original text but has been
entirely omitted in the new text. Humourously Peter Bonde
described that infact he had offered a bottle of good
wine to anyone who could find any other differences
between the original and the ammended version. He still
has his bottle of wine though he himself added that there
is now one new observation, a protocol recently added by
the French President Sarkozy.
Examination of the texts reveal that there are 68 areas
of Law that were previously available to Council Members
Veto that will be disabled by Qualified Majority votes.
These vote values are to be altered: Member states will
no longer have a list of unanimity voting decrees or
merely a membership vote. Instead each Member State's
voting weight is decreed demographically by the
population aggregate of each member State. The decisive
votes for the Council recommendations that are passed
down to the Commission can at present be obtained from
345 votes by 258 majority but decisions can be blocked
with 91 votes. In the future a Qualified Majority Vote
can be obtained by 55% of the votes instead of the
present 73%(that is 65% of a population aggregate.) It
can be easily seen that quite a lot of small member
states will have to club together to obtain a Qual.Maj.
Vote if they wish to rule against any project of the
Council's or the decision of the big states France,
Germany and the UK.The reason for this is that under the
present Status Quo each country has a stipulated vote
merely through Membership - under the new Treaty the
voting rules will be regulated and dominated by the
numerical populations of each State. The European
Parliament already appears to be nothing more than a
talking shop and will continue to be so - despite the
illusion of propaganda that it will gain some power by
this new treaty. Did we already know this or are we under
the illusion that vast salaries are being paid to our
MEPs by the tax-payer to "law makers"?
The European Council however is to gain almost unlimited
power within itself (in contradiction of unanimity) as
without revising treaty clauses in any way it can in
future abolish a parliamentary national veto in any
relevant area choosen. This is thus called a
"self-reforming" Treaty and abolishes
re-negotiation with any Council Member of any State.
A dangerous Precedent in Law has already been set by the
EU who appear to be advanciung their reform powers before
ratification of this treaty. In Sweden a case of
interference by the European Court in Luxembourg whose
privileges will extend in exactly in the manner of this
precedent has occurred. The case concerns a Latvian
building company whose Latvian employees, building a
Swedish school, were paid a Latvian wage rate unequal
with Swedish wages. The Court of Luxembourg judging this
case over-ruled the Swedish indictment. Under the reform
treaty this will be their manner of conduct in the event
of any case they do not wish to recognise.
This problem of workers wage-rates will
also enable Strikes to be prevented in the event of any
Member state declaring a Minimum Wage. Such a clause
could be used as a tool to regulate wages to any low
level that Industry finds itself able to advocate.
Another example of EU decision's
presumed and untoward power has been seen in recent days.
Croatia just about to join the EU, established on Jan 1st
it's fishing rights along their coast line. They have
summarily been ordered by the EU to cancel them.
Similarly Serbia has been ordered to cancel recent
arrangements of shareholding with Russia in one of their
prominent energy industries.
In reference to the Commisioners - the
Irish representative can no longer hope to find a
satisfactory vote for any of his decisions made on the
Council recommendations, as the 2% vote, that he could
add to accumulate with others like-minded in any outcome,
has now been devalued by the population count to 0.8%.
Only by finding one large member state and other small
members to vote with him can he prevail.However, a
horrific loss of power in the Council in this one respect
, though not in the Commision, is put "on the long
finger" for persuasive purposes until March 2017.
The Council is now a European Institution with an elected
President who can twice be elected each time for a
mandate of two and a half years.
There follows material taken from texts provided at the
meeting described above and also from the EU's own
website called "Europa", a female who was
abducted by a bull in Greek myths, whom the Handstand has
evidently prophesised as a symbolic motivator during the
last six years!(see above illustration which has been
used for all Handstand's European miscellanies and
reports.) Europa Ovid tells us was a daughter of King
Agenor of Phoenicia, so beautiful that Jupiter fell in
love with her who, the better to seduce her, assumed the
shape of a little bull where Europa gathered flowers in a
meadow, and where when she caressed his tame demeanour
she even ventured to sit upon his back.Precipitately the
bull rushed to the shore and swam away with her to Crete
where he resumed his mortal shape, they consummated Minos
who in his turn lived and died a King of Crete to retire
as a judge in Hades shaking an urn wherein are the
destinies of mankind.Among a long list of famous Cretens
are ElGreco the artist; the poets Kazantzakis and
Odysseas Elitis, the composer Thodorakis and many other
artists and actors, musicians and singers.
Foreign Policy
Europe as an actor on the global stage will
be achieved by bringing together Europe's external policy
tools, both when developing and deciding new policies.
The Treaty of Lisbon will give Europe a clear voice in
relations with its partners worldwide. It will harness
Europe's economic, humanitarian, political and diplomatic
strengths to promote European interests and values
worldwide, while respecting the particular interests of
the Member States in Foreign Affairs.
http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/glance/index_en.htm
and -
Progress in European Security and Defence Policy
will preserve special decision-making
arrangements but also pave the way towards
reinforced cooperation amongst a smaller group of
Member States. (?which Member States?JB Editor)
http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/glance/index_en.htm
We can see from the above that the
same old colonial warlike policies of our past
history will be the same in the future.
Justice and Social Policies (Competencies in EU
jargon)
Member States are replaced in International relations
by "Union" not "Community",
having a single legal status - an important step from
a legal point of view toward a Federal or European
State.
Thus case law defines that the law of Member states
is in accordance with the Court of Luxembourg which
has primacy over National laws and Constitutions
Cosmetic dogma re. flags and anthems have been
abandoned along with any reference in the future to
any national Constitution.
A massive list of Justice and Social Policies now
lose their unanimity (or Veto possibility) to be
replaced by Council decisions No mention of
introducing European Parliament debate or decision
anywhere in this list. The Council will control the
Commission's power of implementing Laws.Employment is
to be free of all national legislation on wages and
taxes by the look of it - the Council decrees all
legislation in relation to self-employed,social
security,and freedom of movement of all workers and
their dependents. Conditions of access to certain
professions is the only unanimity vote that preserves
the possibility of veto. (And will they decree
ultimately the direction of worker's movements?)
When push comes to shove in the form of a financial
crisis or stockmarket crash the Council can legislate
the activity of the European banking system.
Precedent set in Common Law is now under threat the
Council shall decide the approximation of legislative
acts if there is any difficulty with mutual
recognition among Member States.
The Council shall set minimum rules defining crimes
and sentences.
The Council shall determine the structure operation
and field of action and tasks of Europol (European
Law Enforcement Organisation)
Cultural Incentives shall be decided by the Council (
and we should know already that all cultural
incentive monies have so far been dispersed to
publishers, galleries, theatres and agents and never
to authors, artists, musicians, or actors; and that
the cultural folio of the European Union is the
smallest folio there is in that mighty library.)Veto
possibilities only remain in that field of trade
where language and national diversity may be
prejudiced
Commercial agreements re. education, social and human
health services shall be decreed by the Council
except(ambiguously)in risk of the national
organisation of such services and their exercise free
of prejudice. As Peter Bonde explained in this
context re. Health services, where special and
probably expensive services can be obtained in a
country not one's own, such patients as are rich
enough to travel can obtain services on another
Member State's Health Service which will be paid for
by that foreign Member State's tax-payers.
Specialised courts of Law may be established by the
Council
Intellectual Property Rights shall be established by
the Council - which may jeopardize internet
information in many areas or alternatively jeopardize
the effective claims of invention by any
inventor.Also intellectual property rights shall
become uniform in Europe by Acts created by the
Council - though Language "arrangements"
shall retain the possibility of Veto under Unanimity
law.
Social, economic and demographic (population
aggregate)developments shall be reviewed and their
nature of composition be determined by the Council
A European Defence Agency and its operational rules
to be decided by the Council.
No referendums may be obtained, but "invitations
" may be given by 1,000,000 people for
submissions, proposals of legal acts to the Council
who will legislate if they accept.
Europe's "Own Resources" (what ever they
may be) as a system shall be implemented under
Council orders.
Though unfortunately not applying to individuals,
AGREEMENT TO WITHDRAW FROM THE UNION MAY BE
NEGOTIATED AND CONCLUDED BY THE COUNCIL.
Principles and conditions under which services of
general economic interest shall operate shall be
decided by the Council and also all measures to
ensure such protection (Beware of the Dog)
Customs and Excises between Member States, and
between any Member State and the Commission, shall be
subject to cooperation decided by the Council
excluding national criminal law or national
administration of justice.
Financial funds, movement of same or economic gain of
natural or legal shall be administrated or frozen by
the Council.
Solidarity between member States in the fields of
economic policy, produce, and energy shall be
inserted in emergencies.
Common positions for Europe in matters of economic
and monetary union shall be maintained in relation to
the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as
defined by the Council.
Environment policy shall be under survey by the
Council to end Unanimity or Veto in regard to energy
sources and supply
An entire European Research area is now proposed
under regulation by the Council.
A European Space policy shall be established by the
Council
The energy market in measures of efficiency and
saving shall be legislated by the Council. But
fiscal measures shall have Veto possibility under
unanimity.
Freedom, Security and Justice policies shall be
evaluated in their implementation, and in their
mutual recognition by the Council and Council
regulations ensuring administrative cooperation shall
be created, with an integrated Border system.
Immigrants may suffer re-admission to their countries
of origin under Council legislation.Or they shall be
legally integrated into the European Union.
Family Law shall obtain Veto possibilities under
Unanimity but all procedural and substantive
civil laws for the member States shall be legislated
by the Council.
Various or all aspects of Criminal law shall be
possibily be legislated in the future by the Council.
There remains the possibility of a Veto available in
emergency.
Crime prevention laws shall be created by the
Council.
Cross Border health threats (radiation?),monitoring,
early-warning and control shall be legislated by the
Council.
Public Health acts concerning Alcohol and Tobacco
shall be legislated by the Council.
YES BELIEVE IT THE LIST GOES ON AND ON...
Competitiveness of Tourism within the EU shall be
undertaken by the Council.
Incentive measures for Sport shall be undertaken by
the Council
Systems effectiveness, administration etc to prevent
natural or man-made disasters shall be Legislated by
the Council and also them administrative
effectiveness of all Union Laws shall be legislated
on by the Council.
A common commercial policy shall ofcourse be sought
and implemented by the Council.
Untoward or emergency financial aid shall be decided
by the Council
Humanitarian aid shall be defined and given a
framework by the Council.
A volunteer Corps (corpse?) shall be defined and
rules applied by the Council
Restrictive measures against any one of us as
individuals as natural or legal persons or even
groups shall be decided on by the Council that
hitherto had a Veto possibility.
Solidarity in the event of a decision by the EU
Minister for Foreign Affairs (God forbid Mr.Javier
Solana or the event of Civil or Foreign War) shall be
implemented by the Council.
Judicial appointments by judges shall nevertheless
have their panel and operation established by the
Council.
A legal base for EU Staff regulations shall be
legislated by the Council.
Fraud in the EU's financial interests shall receive
necessary measures by the Council to prevent it in
the field (of interest?)or to fight it. (Hopefully
rewriting the present condemnation of whistleblowers
which condemns them to the sack or demotion)
The Commission presently having one member per country (28 at
present) shall be reduced to 18 members in the year 2014,
thus disenfranchising 1/3rd of the Members for 5 years
between the mandates of the Commission President (who
will be elected by the EU Parliament, their solitary duty
as far as I can presently ascertain)
The European Council shall have a President elected
by themselves by Qualified Majority Vote. This Council
shall become an Institution whose decisions must be
submitted to the Court of Luxembourg, the Court of
Justice. I am not clear who are the members of this
Council
The Council shall have a
Presidency for 6 months and whose votes shall be
demographically regulated and a qualified majority
without veto reached with 55% result among the Members,
or/and such a result as represents 65% of the aggregate
population. This in order to gull you is called a
"Double Majority Vote" pretending that one
ensures the other.
The European Parliament a
parliament that now represents all the citizens of the
Union, where dissension it appears will be entirely
absent as the vote by population aggregate of each member
State will never allow small States any force of
opposition. Democracy because of this type of voting
system is absent and "Codecision" is yet an
ambiguous generalization that does not so far confirm any
power either with or against a Council vote or
determination. It is stated that codecision enables
opinion and protest by a vote that is not democratic or
any longer related to the countries from which its
members are elected. The Court of Luxembourg (Court of
Justice) shall apparently settle any dispute.
The EU Minister for Foreign
Affairs. This post
confirms (also designated as Vice-President of the
Commission) that the European Parliament is now the
Parliament of a State, not a diverse collection of States
and people. The post is taken by Qual.Maj.vote within its
Diplomatic Service. There are problems: the Sovreignty of
the member States is thus abandoned; Responsibility of
this post is only before the Council and never to the
Parliament. Also it is not clear if the Minister gives
the main political impulse to the decisions and will he
or otherwise the President of the Commission represent
the EU's International relations?
The Court of Luxembourg,
(the Court of Justice)
because of the new single legal personality of the EU and
its designation as decisive over so many areas of law,
the vanished separation as "pillars" of law by
merging under its decisions immigration,visa,asylum,
circulation of workers and dependents, it has become
extraordinarily powerful. It governs in the heel of the
hunt all disputed areas of the European Council that will
now be an institution and not representative of merely
one man.
Enhanced Cooperation a method of regulation created in 1997 that has
never been used. Its decisions have to be recognised by
the Parliament in all areas of debate. However, it cannot
be used in currency policy or to negate Council
decisions, and only activated by the Commission as a
result of direct instruction. All these mechanisms can
only be accepted by a single federal State which has not
until now, by the Lisbon Treaty, been accepted as the
Legal position that we will all be in if accepting this
Treaty.
Conclusions:
1. Unanimity and the possibility of Veto can now only be
exercised if there is a threat to linguistic, or cultural
diversity, or appropos the Social services.
2. Euro finance and deficits: The Commission can send an
opinion to a Member State if it be found absolving an
important decision. The Council can veto this by
unanimity vote if it chooses.
3. Energy. All Member States must share EU policy and all
decisions must be made in this case by Qual.Maj. Vote
denying any Veto except in fiscal provisions.
4. Intellectual Property Rights must submit to a
Qual.Maj.Vote
5.Open method of coordination for specified and global
targets for employment. A shared policy. Creation of such
a competence with Trade Unions - possibly nullifying
Trade Union national regulations.
6. Justice and Home Affairs - the end of seperate forces
unanimity and the merging of Laws by Qual.Maj.Vote in the
areas of freedom, security and justice. Also in
Immigration etc as before stated. Also on European Border
laws. Also in Police and Criminal Justice - However there
is an opt-out here for UK and Ireland.
Research,sciences and Space.Shared policies but they
shall not impeach Members own policies. New and specific
policy on Space policy.
7. The Charter of Human Rights shall be a legally binding
force under the policy of the Luxembourg Court. UK
opt-out in force.
8. A new Protocol to ensure national, regional and local
authorities can organise services for the general uses
and needs of the citizens
9. Measures "combatting climate change" shall
be observed.
Unanimity and thus possibility of Veto shall only remain
in the following areas : Foreign policy with important
exceptions that are not noted, Fiscality,Social policy
with exceptions that are not noted, resources of the EU,
new memberships and amendments of Treaty.
The Reform Treaty shall be drawn up on 23rd July 2008 to
amend the existing Treaty in order to adopt it on
18th-19th October 2008 in Lisbon. The Treaty must be
ratified to enter into force prior to European elections
in 2009 of what is only the European Federal State. It is
decreed that at least three countries will have to hold a
referendum - however Ireland only has been able to obtain
this because of Raymond Crotty's case in 1986..
Appropos of Foreign Affairs and the Defense Agency a
concept of a BATTLE GROUP is proposed and an EU
Neighbourhood Policy which at the moment in regard to EU
requirements in Serbian legislation re. Kosovo is totally
unneighbourly under any Christian concept of the word -
but then Christianity is no longer accepted as a moral
perogative in Europe...................................
The EU's ambitious authorities have already examined all
the proposed legislation to ensure that nearly all
Council legislation proposed for the future shall take
place immediately the Treaty enters into force.Their
emergency concepts ofcourse centre round the word
"terrorism". This appalling nomenclature that
has been expanded to cover almost all concepts of
civilised and uncivilised protest against the EU
governments connivance and action at war in Iraq, or
favouring the Israelis criminal activities against the
Palestinians; protest at legislation against immigrants,
and even the EU's revolting inactivity against
paedophilia and child and woman trafficking should give
us food for thought RIGHT NOW and ensure a 'NO' vote in
the Irish referendum forthcoming on the Lisbon Treaty
which has been conjured up during the Presidency of Senor
Barroso. A President who like all other barristers and
legal experts has been well trained in creating arguments
to legislate and rescue both criminals and dictators from
shame and incrimination by the public. Their concerns for
EU security do not consider that individuals everywhere
in their thousands want to live and do live harmoniously
with one another, but they consider that they must ensure
CONTROL of security, employing thousands of otherwise
innocent individuals, trraining them in the concepts that
man is vicious, unreliable, and criminal in his outlook,
that his morals and modesty is a disguise for unrepentant
avarice and harmful acts, and that trust is not a virtue
but a well paid trade of secrecy.
Greater Powers for the European Parliament (Propaganda as
it does not appear to be contained in any measure listed
above) has been described in the EU website:
Lawmaking: the 'co-decision procedure'
(renamed 'ordinary legislative procedure') has been
extended to several new fields. This means that
Parliament now has the same degree of lawmaking power as
the Council in some areas where it used to be merely
consulted or not involved at all. These areas include
legal immigration, penal judicial cooperation (Eurojust,
crime prevention, alignment of prison standards, offences
and penalties), police cooperation (Europol) and some
aspects of trade policy and agriculture. From now on,
then, Parliament will have a role to play in almost all
lawmaking.http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/glance/index_en.htm
An Agricultural Policy I read of recently was to decree
that no cow may be milked by hand. Last year a decree was
issued that all spring ploughing, utterly regardless of
different weather conditions over this vast terrain and
different soil conditions, is to be conducted on a
certain day.
The policy has evolved to meet societys
changing needs, so that food safety, preservation of the
environment, value for money and agriculture as a
source of crops to convert to fuel have acquired
steadily growing importance.European Common Agricultural
Policy - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Underlined:
A dangerous, hazardous proposal that could diminish Grain
production and Food Banks of same DISASTROUSLY, as it has
done in America. JB.editor)
Replacement crops can also make nations agriculturally
independent. Sugar, for example, comes from sugar cane
imported from Polynesia.
Instead of buying the sugar from Polynesia, a
nation can make sugar from sugar beets,...European Common
Agricultural Policy - From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia - (So why did our Government in Ireland
close down Sugar-Beet
Production?Plenty of harvested sugar-beets can presently
be seen in heaps in fields in northern Germany.JB editor)The
Answer: In April 2004 the WTO ruled that almost 50% of EU
sugar exports are illegal.
Jocelyn Braddell, editor.
TUAEUC launches
website
Trade Unionists Against the EU
Constitution has launched an extensive website
outlining the progressive case against the
ratification of the renamed Constitution and for a
referendum. It will carry new items and regular
articles on a huge range of issues including why the
proposed Charter of Fundamental Rights does not give
workers the right to strike, the attack on democracy
and how it will privatise public services across the
EU. Please pass on to your contacts who may be
interested.
http://www.tuaeuc.org
news from england:
21.01.2008 - 09:17 CET | By Leigh Phillips
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is facing a significant
backbench revolt as the bill ratifying the EU's Lisbon
Treaty begins its House of Commons second reading today
(21 January).
At this legislative stage - the first parliamentary vote
on the treaty - it is unlikely that the bill will be
voted down. While most
Conservatives are set to vote with the Labour rebels, the
leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats, although
supporting a referendum on the treaty, has said his party
will abstain.In Westminster, a 'second reading' is the
stage of the legislative process where a vote is taken on
the general principle of a bill before it is sent to
committee. The government has set aside a full 20 days of
parliamentary time to consider the bill in some detail,
hoping this will expose differences amongst the
opposition Conservatives over the issue of Europe.
Nonetheless, the leader of the Labour rebels, Ian
Davidson, warned that opposition is expected to grow as
the bill progresses through parliament. The
eurosceptic Mr Davidson said that frustration has grown
within the governing Labour Party since it became clear
that former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who negotiated the
treaty shortly before leaving office, has ambitions to be
appointed EU president, a new post created by the
treaty.The vote may also feature an amendment, backed by
18 of the rebels, calling for a referendum.
The development comes a day after the Commons Foreign
Affairs Committee issued its opinion on the matter,
concluding that the was "no material
difference" between the EU treaty and foreign policy
elements of the original EU constitution.The Labour
government under Mr Blair had indicated it would have a
referendum on constitution but Mr Brown has said there is
no need for public poll on the new treaty as Britain's
red lines' have been defended.
Mini-referendum
Meanwhile, the UK government's Europe minister, Jim
Murphy, is facing an extra-parliamentary
'mini-referendum' in his own East Renfrewshire
constituency organised by the cross-party eurosceptic
group I Want A Referendum (IWR).The group is set to hold
the poll, which will cost IWR £30,000 (c. 40,000)
to stage, some time in February. It has commissioned
Electoral Reform Services to run referenda in East
Renfrewshire and nine other UK marginal constituencies as
part of a rolling campaign aiming to embarrass the
government into holding a full nationwide referendum on
the treaty.Labour MP Gisela Stuart said: "We made a
very clear promise of a referendum at the last election.
No one really believes for a second that this is a
'fundamentally different document'. We must keep our
promise. "These referenda will give people the
chance to have the vote that the Government is trying to
take away from them. Gordon Brown must listen."
In February, voters in the constituency will receive a
pack containing an information leaflet with contributions
from both sides of the debate, a ballot paper, and a
envelope with prepaid postage.
http://euobserver.com/9/25497/?rk=1
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