[EGP] EGP PRESS RELEASE : EU Reform Treaty

23.06.2007

EU reform treaty will mean progress in some areas but is also a missed opportunity

The Spokespersons of the European Green Party today welcomed the fact that agreement had been reached on a Reform Treaty for the EU at the EU Council in Brussels but said that the deal reached was by no means an unqualified success as it omitted several key reforms which are necessary if the EU is to effectively serve the needs of its citizens and meet the serious challenges it is facing.

EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts said: “It is important to recognise that the fact that an agreement was reached at all is a considerable achievement, particularly in the context of a situation where several governments were being obstructive and indulged in unhelpful and nationalistic rhetoric. The deal struck by the 27 leaders of the EU means that we can now make some progress in key areas which is a great improvement on the stasis which the EU has been in for the past two years. However, the EU must not see this new treaty as a final agreement but rather as a first step that we can build on in the future. One of the problems European Greens see in this treaty is that it will send out mixed messages which will not improve the EU's credibility, either with its citizens or with countries outside the EU. A particular example of this is the way in which the Charter of Fundamental Rights will be legally binding throughout the EU, except in the UK because the UK government won an opt-out. Not only is this opt-out extremely bad news for the millions of British citizens who are poorly paid and will be denied the same legal protection from poor working conditions and exploitation as their counterparts throughout the rest of the EU will enjoy, but it will also weaken the position of the EU as a whole when EU politicians attempt to defend citizens' and human rights in the EU's neighbouring regions and other parts of the world."

EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek continued: " We in the EGP welcome the fact that the EU is to be accorded legal personality .We also think that the appointment of a High Representative for Foreign Affairs is an important step forward for the EU and will make the Union much better equipped to play a positive role at the global level. One important democratic advance contained in the treaty is the considerable increase in powers for the European Parliament. This is particularly important when one remembers that the European Parliament is the only directly elected body in the EU system. The adoption of the “Citizen’s Initiative” whereby EU citizens can propose legislative changes by means of a petition with one million signatures or more is also something that the EGP has long been campaigning for. However, we disagree with the decision not to introduce the new voting system in the EU council until 2014-2017 as it gives an impression of weakness and will hamper the EU's efficiency in the intervening period. "

Both Spokespersons concluded:" This agreement contains several positive reforms and should mean that the EU can make progress in important areas. However, this agreement must not be seen as the sum of our ambitions. We need to see this treaty as just one part of a much wider renewal of the EU that will enable us to meet the social, environmental and political challenges we are facing. Anything less will not regain the trust of EU citizens and will mean that the EU will fail to realise its full potential."

Graham Burgess

Communications Officer

European Green Party

email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.org

Tel no: +32 2 626 0724

Mobile no: +32 477 902 023