Thursday, December 13, 2007
News: UK Prime Minister Signs Controversial EU Treaty
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has signed the EU Reform Treaty in Lisbon.
Mr Brown was unable to join other European heads of government at the official signing ceremony this morning due to a grilling from senior MPs.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband attended the signing on Mr Brown's behalf.
The Prime Minister has played down "fuss" surrounding the double booking but the Tories have accused him of turning the event into a "national embarrassment".
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said Britain was now left with "the worth of both worlds."
"With a stroke of a pen he has signed away a swathe of powers to the EU," he said, "But his sulky rudeness to our European partners means that he has actually managed to lose influence in Brussels."
The Reform Treaty introduces changes which supporters claim are essential for the smooth running of the EU following its expansion to 27 members.
Critics insist the Treaty is essentially the same as the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, and will mean the loss of dozens of British vetoes and the transfer of power from Westminster to Brussels.
Mr Brown's signing of the treaty in Lisbon will pave the way for its ratification by MPs in a Commons vote next year.
But it is also certain to reignite eurosceptic demands for a referendum, which opinion polls suggest have the support of a large majority of UK voters.
Mr Brown was unable to join other European heads of government at the official signing ceremony this morning due to a grilling from senior MPs.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband attended the signing on Mr Brown's behalf.The Prime Minister has played down "fuss" surrounding the double booking but the Tories have accused him of turning the event into a "national embarrassment".
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said Britain was now left with "the worth of both worlds."
"With a stroke of a pen he has signed away a swathe of powers to the EU," he said, "But his sulky rudeness to our European partners means that he has actually managed to lose influence in Brussels."
The Reform Treaty introduces changes which supporters claim are essential for the smooth running of the EU following its expansion to 27 members.
Critics insist the Treaty is essentially the same as the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, and will mean the loss of dozens of British vetoes and the transfer of power from Westminster to Brussels.
Mr Brown's signing of the treaty in Lisbon will pave the way for its ratification by MPs in a Commons vote next year.
But it is also certain to reignite eurosceptic demands for a referendum, which opinion polls suggest have the support of a large majority of UK voters.
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