National veto must go, says Prodi. (The True Colours of The EU.)

The Telegraph ^ | Filed: 18/09/2003 | By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

[.cnI redruM]

The European Commission called yesterday for the abolition of the national veto in all constitutional matters.

The demand was in proposed changes to the draft European constitution unveiled yesterday by Romano Prodi, the commission's president, supposedly in the name of the entire body.

Dismissing the current text drafted by Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the former French president, as "unworkable" and "absurd", Mr Prodi said member states retained far too much power to block decisions. It would inevitably lead to gridlock once the European Union expanded to 25 next year.

Mr Prodi said the veto must be eliminated on all future changes to the constitution, saying it was unreasonable to let any one country block future amendments in perpetuity.

Instead, a quorum of five sixths of the EU states should be able to revise the constitution. This opens the way for almost limitless erosion of sovereignty even if Britain, Sweden, Denmark and Ireland were all united in adamant opposition.

The move provoked anger at the weekly meeting of the college of commissioners yesterday. Neil Kinnock, the commission's vice-president, refused to back the proposal on the grounds that it amounted to a revolutionary shift in constitutional procedure.

Chris Patten, the external affairs commissioner, wrote a letter lodging his protest before travelling to Iraq this week.

Mr Prodi also called for an end to the veto in remaining policy areas, citing taxation, public health and even the fight against bio-terrorism.

"The union's constitution is a hugely important document. It will govern the way our union functions for years to come. So it is crucial we get it right now," he said,.

The original text was agreed over 17 months of arduous talks by 105 MPs, MEPs and ministers in the European Convention.

Critics said that Mr Prodi was playing with fire by encouraging EU governments to start unpicking the delicate compromise, or by pushing for new powers that would never be accepted by London, Paris, Madrid or other capitals. The existing text already goes too far for the British Government.

Gary Titley, MEP, the Labour leader in Brussels, said: "Prodi never learns. By trying to open up the question of the veto he's opening up a Pandora's box. There is a risk that everything will fall apart."

"This is simply ludicrous," said one EU diplomat. "The French wouldn't dream of accepting these plans, or any other state, because it means they could be out-voted on their core concerns."

[.cnI redruM]

Every so often, the facade slips, and we see what the EU really wants to accomplish.

[Mike Darancette]

The European Commission called yesterday for the abolition of the national veto in all constitutional matters.

The Pigs want to rewrite the rules at Animal Farm.

[bulldogs]

The anti-christ has spoken

[Dog Gone]

The EU is eventually going to implode. At some point, some country is going to say, "$#^%^ this!!"

[Prodigal Son]

Instead, a quorum of five sixths of the EU states should be able to revise the constitution.

This is similar to the way we do it in the States, or?

[.cnI redruM]

If the goal of these nations upon joining was to assimilated into a Eurostate, then the reccommendation makes sense. If the EU is supposedly not out to strip their sovereignty, the President has overreached.

[Prodigal Son]

The second they started talking about a constitution they were in effect talking about giving up sovereignty. They mightn't have realized it but then again it took the Southern States a while to cotton on to that fact as well.

[.cnI redruM]

Good analogy. It reminds me of Wat Tyler, who led The English Peasant Revolt against Richard II. He spent two days burning awhole in the middle of London and marched up to the bloody tower. Then it suddenly dawned on him, the king isn't going to want to negotiate....

People have a really funny way of deluding themselves sometimes.