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At midnight last night, the United Kingdom ceased to be a sovereign state
The Telegraph ^ | 12/1/2009 | Daniel Hannon

Posted on 12/01/2009 6:00:51 AM PST by markomalley

We woke up in a different country today. Alright, it doesn’t look very different. The trees still seem black against the winter sun; the motorways continue to jam inexplicably; commuters carry on avoiding eye contact. But Britain is no longer a sovereign nation. At midnight last night, we ceased to be an independent state, bound by international treaty to other independent states, and became instead a subordinate unit within a European state.

Yes, a European state. Take a quick dekko at the definition set out in Article One of the1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States: “The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states.”

Until yesterday, the EU qualified on grounds (a), (b) and (c). Now it has ticked the final box. Under the Lisbon Treaty, which came into force today, it acquires “legal personality”, which gives it the right to sign treaties and treat with other states. Nor is this right simply theoretical: the EU now has a foreign minister, a diplomatic corps (the European External Action Service) and 16o overseas embassies.

(snip)

Until yesterday, Britain could simply walk out of the EU by abrogating the Treaty of Rome and repealing the 1972 European Communities Act. Henceforth, it will have to go through the secession procedure laid down in Lisbon. In other words – in the minds of Euro-lawyers, at any rate, if not of British constitutionalists – the EU gets to settle the terms on which its members are allowed to leave. Formal sovereignty has been shifted from the national capitals to Brussels

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: belgium; brussels; eu; lisbontreaty; uk
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To: IYAS9YAS

Thanks.


21 posted on 12/01/2009 6:44:00 AM PST by sr4402
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To: markomalley
In other words – in the minds of Euro-lawyers, at any rate, if not of British constitutionalists – the EU gets to settle the terms on which its members are allowed to leave.

I'm no fan of the EU, but how is that different to the US where it has long been plain that no state may exercise their 'right to secession'?

22 posted on 12/01/2009 6:44:08 AM PST by Androcles (All your typos are belong to us)
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To: IYAS9YAS
from apathy to dependence

We're here. Too many people expect too many freebies from the government. We didn't need a trillion dollar stimulus. We don't need a Death Care bill. We don't need Cap and Tax. It's all a lie. People have just gotten too lazy to fight it.
If these things pass, we'll be in the bondage stage again.

In a few years, when everyone is enslaved and impoverished, we'll start all over again with God, because he'll be our only hope.

23 posted on 12/01/2009 6:46:08 AM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: Androcles

agreed! and for the EU from a realistic point of view, ok it maybe possible to end membership in theory but to be serious once in there is no realistic way out.


24 posted on 12/01/2009 6:47:20 AM PST by darkside321
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To: glide625

I don’t know, but I’m just waiting for a daily Two Minutes Hate where we can all rail against him.

/s


25 posted on 12/01/2009 7:02:17 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: IYAS9YAS

I wonder where Sir Alex thought Britain was when he wrote that?

Just interested.


26 posted on 12/01/2009 7:04:12 AM PST by Vanders9
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To: concerned about politics

I’ll be watching Copenhagen closely. I’ve contended that even if the Zer0 signs something there, as Lord Monckton claimed, the Senate wouldn’t ratify, but these days, with so many representatives ignoring or outright defying their constituents, if it looks like the administration is getting ready to sign us into a “world government”, I’m going to move.


27 posted on 12/01/2009 7:08:29 AM PST by Little Pig (Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.)
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To: markomalley
Call me a tinfoil hatter, but I think that we'll be called upon to settle another European Civil War, sooner or later. Likely Later.

I hope not. The last two were lousy affairs.

28 posted on 12/01/2009 7:19:02 AM PST by wbill
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To: Little Pig
I’m going to move.

I'm staying here to reclaim the nation after it's fall. BUT, there's no way I'm going to pay for any of it. I'll eat weeds before I'll send Washington one more penny than I absolutely have to. If there's a tax attached to anything, I'll not buy it. Christmas this year is food. Lots of food. Everyone eats, and food is nontaxable.
If my entire extended family wanted to quit their jobs and work the fields here, I'll take them in right now. All we'd need is enough food to get through the year.

29 posted on 12/01/2009 7:19:45 AM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: markomalley

“The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.”

Edmund Burke

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains or slavery?”

Patrick Henry


30 posted on 12/01/2009 7:31:17 AM PST by dog breath
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To: gieriscm

ping


31 posted on 12/01/2009 7:36:05 AM PST by BCR #226 (07/02 SOT www.extremefirepower.com...The BS stops when the hammer drops.)
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To: Little Pig
if it looks like the administration is getting ready to sign us into a “world government”, I’m going to move

To another world?
32 posted on 12/01/2009 7:48:07 AM PST by Famishus (North of the equator, the Death Spiral is clockwise.)
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To: Famishus

No. I have connections in India, where I can likely live somewhat insulated from the aftermath of the US becoming a socialist country. I’ll be able to act with more freedom from there until things settle down and it becomes apparent that the US is ready to be resuscitated. India is only just developing a vibrant economy, and is modernizing its infrastructure. They’re not likely to let anyone strangle their golden goose before they’ve even had the chance to enjoy the eggs they know are coming. I’ll be able to make a comfortable living there until the political conditions improve.


33 posted on 12/01/2009 8:23:47 AM PST by Little Pig (Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.)
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To: markomalley

“There’s No England Now.”


34 posted on 12/01/2009 8:24:47 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Little Pig
...if it looks like the administration is getting ready to sign us into a “world government”, I’m going to move.

Look around you, friend. You're already standing on the last quasi-free land on the planet. There's nowhere to run to.

I'm afraid that America is place where freedom will make its final stand. And stand, we must.

35 posted on 12/01/2009 8:54:24 AM PST by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: concerned about politics

You shouldnt have to eat weeds. I stocked up on seeds and canned food.


36 posted on 12/01/2009 8:55:39 AM PST by castlegreyskull
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To: WKUHilltopper

I heard a ludicrous commercial on Sirius urging people to visit a website and sign a petition in support of “Hopenhagen”.

Doesn’t the Senate have to ratify treaties?


37 posted on 12/01/2009 9:00:39 AM PST by GatorGirl (Eschew Socialism!)
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To: autumnraine
I wonder if this will affect the continuation of the monarchy in England. Not that the monarchy does anything anyway except collect too much of the citizens' taxes and ride around waving and looking official in horse drawn carriages. But it's been Britain's tradition and their's to continue or discontinue as they see fit.

Just wondering if the EU will interject themselves in this particular business of Britain's.

38 posted on 12/01/2009 9:01:51 AM PST by 3catsanadog (If healthcare reform is passed, 41 years old will be the new 65 YO.)
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To: GatorGirl
Doesn’t the Senate have to ratify treaties?

Yeah, there's something called the Constitution, but nobody bothers with that anymore.

/sarc
39 posted on 12/01/2009 9:04:32 AM PST by Deo volente (Sarah Palin was right. There ARE death panels in the bill.)
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To: MrB

“...and the statists’ only solution is that the State needs to be bigger in order to succeed....”

Sadly, MrB, you are correct...but you forgot the statists’ other time-honored Final Solution...

Eliminate and annihilate any and all who oppose them.

That always follows the sudden realization that “Utopia” doesn’t exist...when a portion of the public wakes up and says “Hey...wait a minute...”


40 posted on 12/01/2009 9:17:20 AM PST by NFHale (The Second Amendment - By any means necessary.)
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