EU constitutional nonsense

The European Movement (Malta) notes the nonsensical comments that have been made from various quarters on the draft European Constitution.

First of all, let us reiterate the movement's fullest support of the Government's decision to allow the national debate to mature a bit more before asking the House of Representatives to approve the draft.

However, we need to quash some 'queries', which we think are merely the result of crass ignorance of the contents of the Constitution.

Firstly, an editorial in a local English language newspaper last Wednesday asked:

"Could the EU, for example, and if it has jurisdiction over social policy matters, legalise abortion as a matter of social policy and, should this happen, will Malta have no option but to submit?" This is a red herring.

The Act of Accession, a treaty approved by the national parliaments of the 25 member states and which has not been totally superseded by the new European Constitution, states very clearly that nothing in the treaties or acts modifying them "shall affect the application in the territory of Malta of national legislation relating to abortion".

Indeed, this provision is included verbatim in Title VII Article 62, of the Draft European Constitution, as are the provisions on the acquisition of secondary residences in Malta. The latter are inserted in Title VI, Article 61, of the Draft Constitution. Serious opinion writers ought to look before they leap.