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EU treaty 'same as Constitution' EU treaty 'same as Constitution'
(1 day later)
The EU treaty is "substantially equivalent" to the EU Constitution thrown out by Dutch and French voters in 2005, MPs have said.The EU treaty is "substantially equivalent" to the EU Constitution thrown out by Dutch and French voters in 2005, MPs have said.
The European scrutiny committee said it should be "made clear" the UK can keep opt-outs of parts of the document.The European scrutiny committee said it should be "made clear" the UK can keep opt-outs of parts of the document.
The Conservatives said the government was now "morally bound" to hold a referendum on the treaty, as had been promised on the Constitution. The Conservatives said the government was now "morally bound" to hold a referendum on the treaty, as had been promised on the constitution.
But ministers say the two documents are "substantially" different.But ministers say the two documents are "substantially" different.
The treaty incorporates some of the old EU Constitution, on which Labour had promised a referendum before it was scuppered by the Dutch and French votes.The treaty incorporates some of the old EU Constitution, on which Labour had promised a referendum before it was scuppered by the Dutch and French votes.
The Conservatives argue it is as much as 90% the same.The Conservatives argue it is as much as 90% the same.
'Essentially secret''Essentially secret'
But the government says it has secured opt-outs or "red lines" - in areas such as human rights, tax and benefits, foreign policy and justice - which make it different. But the government says it has secured opt-outs or "red lines" - in areas such as human rights, tax and benefits, foreign policy and justice - which makes it different.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will veto the treaty if these are not kept.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will veto the treaty if these are not kept.
The compressed timetable now proposed... could not have been better designed to marginalise [national parliaments'] role European scrutiny committee The compressed timetable now proposed... could not have been better designed to marginalise [national parliaments'] role European scrutiny committee class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6928737.stm">Spotlight on Reform Treaty class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3653&edition=2&ttl=20071009093520">Send us your comments
The committee criticised the "essentially secret" drafting of the document, which is due to be signed by EU heads of government in Portugal after an Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) later this month.The committee criticised the "essentially secret" drafting of the document, which is due to be signed by EU heads of government in Portugal after an Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) later this month.
It said the treaty had been drawn up hastily, with draft texts available to member governments only 48 hours before the IGC in June.It said the treaty had been drawn up hastily, with draft texts available to member governments only 48 hours before the IGC in June.
This had been carried out "by the [EU] Presidency, with texts produced at the last moment before pressing for an agreement", it said.This had been carried out "by the [EU] Presidency, with texts produced at the last moment before pressing for an agreement", it said.
The report said: "The compressed timetable now proposed, having regard to the sitting terms of national parliaments, could not have been better designed to marginalise their role."The report said: "The compressed timetable now proposed, having regard to the sitting terms of national parliaments, could not have been better designed to marginalise their role."
The report said it was "likely to be misleading" for the government to claim that the treaty was not have the same characteristics as the Constitution. The report said it was "likely to be misleading" for the government to claim that the treaty did not have the same characteristics as the constitution.
'Obligations''Obligations'
And it warned that the UK's "red lines" may not prove effective.And it warned that the UK's "red lines" may not prove effective.
In addition, a requirement for national parliaments to contribute to "the good functioning of the Union" may contradict the Bill of Rights, which protects the UK's Parliament from being placed under legal obligations by any outside body, the MPs said. Mr Brown is being urged to hold a referendumIn addition, a requirement for national parliaments to contribute to "the good functioning of the Union" may contradict the Bill of Rights, which protects the UK's Parliament from being placed under legal obligations by any outside body, the MPs said.
They added: "In our view, the imposition of such a legal duty on the Parliament of this country is objectionable as a matter of principle and must be resisted."Mr Brown is being urged to hold a referendum They added: "In our view, the imposition of such a legal duty on the Parliament of this country is objectionable as a matter of principle and must be resisted."
The report also said: "What matters is whether the new treaty produces an effect which is substantially equivalent to the constitutional treaty.The report also said: "What matters is whether the new treaty produces an effect which is substantially equivalent to the constitutional treaty.
"We consider that, for those countries which have not requested derogations or opt-outs from the full range of agreements in the treaty, it does.""We consider that, for those countries which have not requested derogations or opt-outs from the full range of agreements in the treaty, it does."
New provisions to allow national parliaments to object to measures proposed by the unelected European Commission "add very little by way of democratic control over the Commission and the EU institutions", the committee said. This report turns up the heat on the government, but does it have any real effect? BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2007/10/turning_up.html">Read Mark's thoughts in full New provisions to allow national parliaments to object to measures proposed by the unelected European Commission "add very little by way of democratic control over the Commission and the EU institutions", the committee said.
Conservative Europe spokesman Mark Francois said: "It is now crystal clear that the two documents are essentially the same and therefore Gordon Brown is morally bound to offer the people of the country the referendum he promised them."Conservative Europe spokesman Mark Francois said: "It is now crystal clear that the two documents are essentially the same and therefore Gordon Brown is morally bound to offer the people of the country the referendum he promised them."
Derek Scott, chairman of the I Want a Referendum campaign, said: "This report blows a huge hole in the case against a referendum."Derek Scott, chairman of the I Want a Referendum campaign, said: "This report blows a huge hole in the case against a referendum."
'Difficult' argument
Neil O'Brien, director of the Eurosceptic think-tank Open Europe, said: "For a committee which is dominated by Labour MPs to come out and say that this is substantially the same as the European Constitution is really very striking."
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the "big turning point" was the doubt cast by the committee on the government's claim that its "red-lines" would protect the UK from the worst effects of the constitution.
"It is going to become very difficult for Gordon Brown to say this is a completely different document."
But Europe Minister Jim Murphy said: "The reform treaty is significantly different to the old constitutional treaty in intent, form and substance."
An alternative report tabled by Conservative committee member Bill Cash, stating that the treaty "requires a referendum of the electorate of the United Kingdom", was defeated.An alternative report tabled by Conservative committee member Bill Cash, stating that the treaty "requires a referendum of the electorate of the United Kingdom", was defeated.