Sunday, 4th October 2009
The Lisbon Treaty: what's in it for us?
The Maltese flag displayed as Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi makes his way to the head table to formally sign the Lisbon Treaty on December 13, 2007.
After yesterday's 'Yes' vote in Ireland, the Lisbon Treaty is expected to enter into force in January if ratification goes ahead in the two remaining member states - the Czech Republic and Poland.
The treaty will not make much difference to the Maltese citizen. However, in the long run, as an EU member, Malta will have to act in accordance with the new rules and this may have an impact on the political, economic and social evolution of the country.
Under the new rules, Malta will lose its right of veto in some 50 areas of EU policymaking. Although the veto is almost never used by member states, it is still considered a potential safeguard.
However, with 27 EU member states and the possibly more in future, it does not make sense to have a situation whereby a country of 400,000 people can stop a decision that has an impact on 500 million. On the other hand, it will still be up to Malta to decide on the most important areas such as taxation, foreign affairs (including sovereignty issues), defence and social security.
Malta will still be able to nominate a Maltese national for the post of EU Commissioner, thus ensuring its interests in the EU executive are well guarded. Commissioners are expected to look after the common good of the EU, but it is an open secret that they also act in coordination with their home governments.
The bigger countries have other officials who can look after their interests, including high-ranking officials such as directors-general.
Malta will also obtain its sixth seat in the European Parliament with the ratification of the treaty. For Labour's Joseph Cuschieri, the entry into force of the new treaty is a blessing. His decision to cede his parliamentary seat to new leader Joseph Muscat had left him without a job.
After placing sixth in last June's MEP elections, Mr Cuschieri will become an MEP earning some €90,000 a year and tens of thousands of euros more in other perks and allowances for his staff. However, he is going to have to wait a while.
What's in the Lisbon Treaty?
No constitution
The new treaty is a more modest charter compared with the Constitution project that failed in 2005 following its rejection by the French and Dutch. It only amends previous EU treaty rulebooks, and drops some of the symbolic elements of the constitution such as formally recognising the EU flag and anthem.
Charter of fundamental rights
A 50-article charter contains an exhaustive list of well-established rights, such as freedom of speech and religion, but also includes the right to shelter, education, collective labour bargaining and fair working conditions. It will be legally binding on 25 of the 27 EU members. The UK and Poland obtained an opt-out.
National parliament
The EU Parliament will see its members drop from 785 to 750, which would mean fewer seats for 17 of the 27 EU member states. Malta will get an additional seat, boosting its number of MEPs to six. It is not yet known when Mr Cuschieri will be able to take up his seat. Though the treaty is due to enter into force in January, he will have to wait for the approval of a procedure by the European Parliament and a new protocol which will have to be ratified once again by all the 27 member states. Still, Mr Cuschieri might be able to gain observer status sometime next year.
EU Council (representing governments)
The treaty will mean the EU can take decisions by majority rather than unanimous voting in 50 new areas, including judicial and police cooperation, immigration and asylum, education and economic policy. The UK and Ireland obtained opt-outs in judicial and police areas. Unanimity is, however, still required in key areas such as foreign and defence policy, social security and taxation issues. Malta's vote weighting will amount to three votes, one less than Luxembourg.
Foreign affairs
The EU will start being represented on an international level through a representative for foreign affairs, taking the place of the current two-post system divided between the current high representative for foreign and security policy and commissioner for external affairs.
European President
A president will be chosen by EU leaders for a maximum five-year term to chair EU summits, facilitate cohesion and consensus, and represent the EU abroad. This will replace the current system in which EU leaders rotate into the president's post every six months.
However, member states will still get an opportunity to preside over EU Councils at ministerial level for six months on a rotation basis.
European Commission
Member states will retain the right to nominate one commissioner per member state no matter the size of territory or population. All EU Commissioners will have the same powers at the EU executive although their portfolios are assigned by the President of the European Commission.
National parliaments
National Parliaments will gain more say in the EU decision-making process, including a new right to be informed on the evaluation of policies conducted in the area of freedom, security and justice, proposals to amend the treaties and new candidate countries' applications to join the Union. Members of national parliaments would also acquire rights to control Europol and Eurojust, together with the European Parliament.
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Comments
"Unbelievable what tripe you try to feed The Times readers who are fortunately not so gullible as you think they are"
You could also argue that the voters aren't that gullible, how many votes did the anti-EU parties get in June ... perhaps you could remind us of their sweeping victory?
Veto - ah yes considering it hasn't been used in years it's usually a smokescreen used by euro-septics cause they can't think what else to say.
Also those areas I mentioned earlier are not with the EU jurisdiction, not sure why you are claiming it will be (other than to spread more falsehoods)
USSEU United Soviet Socialist European Union -- and for someone who claims to support the workers I would've thought you would approve of a Soviet Socialist system. We could perhaps even get the old Mao uniforms and force everyone to wear these (I think that's mentioned in the Lisbon treaty)
I have heard about battle groups, but considering the EU doesn't have an army it's a little surprising to hear about these imaginary EU battle groups. What wars will the EU fight? Will they invade Switzerland to take over its clock manufacturing base? Don't you think the EU should have capabilities to respond to natural disasters or provide support to the UN in times of need. Or do you prefer people to suffer more?
Death penalty -- explain why the Czech president is refusing to sign the treaty, as he is a Euro-Septic, but hasn't mentioned the death penalty angle ... or infact why no-one else ever has?
Schengen -- nothing to do with the Lisbon treaty, was set up year before. Also criminals can usually move about by taking planes, before Schengen started. I don't recall seeing anything before that blocked people from coming in. Infact now, because of Schengen, the police have greater support from their EU collegues (or do you prefer the police to operate in the dark)
Why should a country not retain the VETO if what is going to be approved will be damaging to it and it's citizens?
Never heard about the eu battle groups Scullion? Then let me assure you that you are living on the moon. Why should we be involved in a war which other eu members get involved into to serve their colonialist aspirations? As if we were not involved in enough wars through being a foreigners colony! Re death penalty I answered you on the other page Scullion.
What about Schengen? Criminals moving at will without any hindrance as evidence by the explosion in criminality throughout the countries.
So you are also denying that the eu is now going to have a President are you? Unbelievable what tripe you try to feed The Times readers who are fortunately not so gullible as you think they are Scullion.
"Also some areas are not within EU jurisdiction (tax, social policy, defence, foreign policy & future treaty revisions) "
Are you serious Scullion?
USSEU United Soviet Socialist European Union Scullion.
Dear Ivan, you stated that, and I quote, "The treaty will not make much difference to the Maltese citizen". Then you continued, "Under the new rules, Malta will lose its right of veto in some 50 areas of EU policymaking".
Can you please explain this contradiction (in just a couple of lines) ??? Or are you so sure that our government would have never used the veto ??? Look at what Ireland got before voting "Yes" !!! Comapre it to what we've got !!! We got absoulutely NOTHING !!! Because we were the first country to ratify the treaty, without any consultation !!! Tell us what we WILL lose Ivan !!! For sure the Maltese citizen will COMPLETELY lose its democratic rights in europe, because his/her future will be determined by a bunch of EU dictators sitting pretty in Brussels !!! And I remember Dr.Fenech Adami saying "Let us do like the Irish !!!" Yeah right.....my foot !!!!
Il-vera pajjiz tal-Mickey MICE !!!!!
How about majority voting instead of unanimity Scullion? -- what about it. Some areas now operate under a QMV system which requires a double majority for it to be passed. However during normal negotiations most original proposals are amended to take into account local practicalities. Very few proposals have ever been veto'd even under the existing system.
Also some areas are not within EU jurisdiction (tax, social policy, defence, foreign policy & future treaty revisions)
How about the borderless schengenn agreement Scullion?
Started in 1985 between several countries, and became part of the EU in 1997. Malta joined in 2007. Allows for quicker movement of people across borders. What exactly is your point?
USSEU -- sounds like a spaceship on Star Trek
Any more false information you like to highlight?
Oh dear .. well
The EU President already exists, but instead of being leader of the country which has the current rotating presidency, it'll now be a single person voted (by QMV) for a 2.5 year period (max. twice)
They have no powers other than what the existing EU President has.
How about the eu battle groups Scullion? -- What EU battle groups. Article 42 of the Lisbon treaty refers to common security and defence among members. It also states (sub section7) the countries should help each other if attacked by a third country (or would you prefer everyone looked on). Also Article 43 relates to EU support for humanitarian work (under the auspices of the UN). Unfortunately it doesn't appear to allow a fictional all powerful EU President to order tanks onto the streets of Valletta .. that is just your imagination.
Death penalty -- see my earlier answer on other page .. but still a made up invention by you
The lies are spread and the information withheld by the europhiles Scullion. Why is the eu so afraid to consult the people Scullion. Why was the treaty purposely made unreadable so that the people do not demand a referendum?
Here is a lie Scullion. The present president is not the president of all the countries but of the Council, Commission or the EP as the case may be. Now there is going to be a European Union President which will be the president above all the Presidents or countries highest person.
How about the eu battle groups Scullion? What are they needed for Scullion?
How about the right for the eu to introduce the death penalty Scullion?
How about majority voting instead of unanimity Scullion?
Borders Scullion? How about the borderless schengenn agreement Scullion?
No Scullion. The eu is on the way to become a federal USSEU like the USA to be known as the USE, an apt and fitting name because it is using the people for its petty dictators to dictate on everything the people must do.
"... but there will be 1 military and 1 president to rule us all."
Really, perhaps you could point that section out in the Lisbon treaty.
Or have you been reading too much of Tolkein's Lord Of The Rings ?
Article 61 - subsection 2
"... For the purpose of this Title, stateless persons shall be treated as third-country nationals."
Article 63a - subsection 5 says (this article relates to immigration)
"This Article shall not affect the right of Member States to determine volumes of
admission of third-country nationals coming from third countries to their territory in order to
seek work, whether employed or self-employed."
Article 62 - subsection 4
"This Article shall not affect the competence of the Member States concerning the geographical demarcation of their borders, in accordance with international law."
What will happen if the EU majority decides that all EU countries should abide to the new Search and Rescue rules, the same SAR rules that Malta had refused to abide to till now? What will happen if the 'majority' orders Italy to scrap the repatriation plan and return to its nearly old open doors policy?
Thank god we have 1 extra seat. That will help in such circumstances.....
I hope you found some of the information provided helpful. If there is anything else that your unclear of, let me know :)
Although I agree the spreading of information is problematic as it can easily get hijacked by either side, given its technical nature.
Maybe people didn't go and vote because they didn't think it was such a big deal, and understood that the Lisbon treaty didn't actually contain all the lies the euro-septic crowd spread about.
Anyway are you upset that a country democratically voted for it, after learning all the facts. In fact the only major Irish party that campaigned against the treaty was Sinn Fein, and we all now the type of people that back them and what damage they caused to Ireland over the last few decades. If that's the type of people you support then I only hope that you and your ilk never get into power.
a few facts
The EU will not be 'one power' -- each country still exists, they don't suddenly vanish. I don't see any country dismantling their parliaments.
you won't have the 'eu military police' (especially as there is no such thing as 'eu military police') just another made up invention
'1 president in power of all countries' ... this is just laughable
There is already an EU President, namely the leader of the EU country currently holding the EU Presidency (changes every 6months). The new President will now be in power for 2&half years (max. twice) elected by QMV by member states. They will have exactly the same power as previously. The main reason for this change was to allow continuity, and an external face.
Our politicants did not even have the decency to inform the people that the eu can introduce the death penalty notwithstanding all its says that it is against the death penalty. That is if our politicants have read the treaty because I believe that none had done so.
Whats the point of filling a sixth seat if we never fill a room?
And why exactly does it not make sense, since the veto is rarely used, than most definitely if Malta had to use it, it would do so to safeguard our Nation from some very negative repercussions as the result of a certain decision taken by the EU. It is precisely because we are a tiny country of 400,000 that the veto is important, as no other member state has our special and peculiar characteristics.
What about the military aspect of this treaty, it would be in everyone’s interest if we had the opportunity to read a factual unbiased editorial about it since no one from our Parlament had the decency to inform the Maltese about the EU’s future plans regarding this matter.
This is one area where our arrogant politicants decided to do away with by being arrogant and arrogated to themselves the power of the people instead of consulting the people through a referendum. No wonder there were so many people who did not even bother to go to vote. This is the shameful situation into which our country has been brought into by the politicants who have renounced to our independence and freedom to make our country again a foreigners colony and us colonized people. SHAME AND SHAME AGAIN ON THEM.
it does not make sense where a country of 400,000 can stop a decision that has an impact of 500 million.....
great, finally we are hearing IN CLEAR LANGUAGE what effect this treaty will have on our small country
Mr Scullion this was the information I was asking for yesterday in my comments.....which was totally missing in the previous articles and by the way even yesterday evening in the TVM news when Dr Joanna Drake was saying what impact will this Treaty have