No time to waste

The European Parliament has approved the Treaty of Lisbon and urges all Member States to proceed on to national ratification as soon as possible. This is the only way to make sure that the new Community ID Card will be in place by the 1st of January 2009, before the Assembly elections which will take place the following 27th June. The Plenary session which took place in Strasbourg on 18th-21st February paid much attention to the issue, and most political forces there agreed. Alas, no agreement was reached on a common position on the fight against terrorism. A “Yes” to the Treaty, with some concerns and protests. The Treaty of Lisbon represents “a substantial improvement” over present treaties. For this reason, MEPs Richard Corbett (UK) and Inigo Méndez de Vigo (Spain) prepared a report asking the Parliament to approve the article signed last December, which is now about to be ratified. The Community’s top brass, together with several deputies, took part in a lengthy debate on the issue in Strasbourg. The two speakers stressed the importance of the new treaty, which “enables good functioning of EU institutions”, grants greater powers to the Assembly, and will allow the Union to “pursue concrete objectives in favour of citizens”. Several speakers pointed out that “we lost a chance” when we abandoned the Constitution. In Lisbon, some say that a “neo-nationalism” prevailed, as evidenced by the exceptions to the Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights that some States obtained. A renewed “ability to act” for institutions. The People’s Party, Socialists, Lib-Dems, Greens, the moderate Right and single deputies from other parties all voted in favour of the Treaty of Lisbon (the final vote count was 525 for and 115 against with 29 abstentions). “It’s absurd that the far left, the far right and British Conservatives should all vote against the treaty. They don’t believe in the EU, and they want a European referendum on the treaty, in the hope of delaying its journey”, Corbett said. Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering told MEPs: “I welcome this overwhelming majority supporting for the Treaty. The vote represents the free will of the people you represent. This Treaty gives the EU the possibility to function properly and improves democratic structures.” Referring to Eurosceptics protests calling for a referendum, he said: “We in the European Parliament defend European values. We will never let volume and noise prevail over a democratic Europe.” No agreement on the fight against terrorism. MEPs rejected a report put forward by the Belgian Deputy Gérard Deprez for a “global strategy on the fight against terrorism”. The report began with the realization that terrorism is “the main threat to the security of citizens in the Union”, adding that “international terrorist organisations are active within the EU, are attempting to expand through recruitment and consider Union citizens as their target”. MEPs approved a series of amendments supported by socialists, lib-dems and the left, calling for the punishment of the “glorification of terrorism”, while fully respecting “freedom of expression”. The amended report also called for “measures to improve dialogue and the social integration of migrants”. The People’s Party, the right and single deputies voted against. The final vote count was 332 against, 241 for and 87 abstensions). The Gaza Strip and Turkey’s membership. A large majority voted instead in favour of a document of analysis of the situation in the Middle East. The Parliament stated its on-going support for the peaceful coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians, adding that the “situation in Gaza is a threat to peace”, both in the region and internationally. The document calls for an end to every form of embargo, an increase in aid to the civilian population, and a greater international presence at border-crossings. It calls for the “creation of a Palestinian State”, an end to hostile acts against Israel, an end to terrorist acts and retaliations. Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt gave a speech on the “Future of Europe”, putting a word in favour of Turkey’s entry in the Union. He stressed the need for a “single market” and a strong “economic” Union. He added that his country is “in favour of enlargement”, that “we should not start building a new wall against Turkey” and that “Without continuing enlargement, we would run the risk of instability on our own continent. Enlargement is the most important strategic instrument for disseminating the values that European cooperation is founded on”.