European Union (Amendment) Act 2008

 

The legislation will allow the new EU treaty to have effect in UK law. The reform treaty was agreed to by the British government at the Informal European Council in Lisbon in October. The government has described the Reform Treaty as “required to enable the enlarged EU of 27 member states to work effectively.”

The government is insisting that the document is an amending treaty and thus should not be put to the country for approval in a referendum. The Conservative Party has taken the opposite stance on the issue and are demanding a nation-wide referendum on the Treaty.

This Bill will undoubtedly prove to be quite controversial for the government in the forthcoming parliamentary session.

Secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs, David Miliband, opened second reading debate on the European Union (Amendment) Bill in the Commons on January 21.

He began; “The government are convinced that Britain’s membership and full engagement with the European Union is good for Britain and good for Europe; and we believe that the treaty is good for Britain and good for Europe, too”.

He stressed that “this is an amending treaty” and a referendum is not appropriate.

He also added that voluntary sector leaders have said that “the treaty strengthens the voice of civil society”.

Miliband also talked about EU enlargement, qualified majority voting and the “better off out” campaign.

William Hague (Con, Richmond, Yorks) contributed to the debate. He said; “the trouble with the Bill and the treaty is that they fly in the face of that British aspiration to create an outward-looking rather than an inward-looking Europe”.

He noted the opposition’s most “serious objection”; that the government plans to take the Bill through parliament “without any of the consultation of the people that was promised at the last election, brazenly abrogating the commitment made by every party in the House to hold a national referendum in this event”.

Edward Davey (Lib Dem, Kingston and Surbiton) agreed with the government that the treaty’s main purpose it to improve how the EU works and added his support for the Bill.

He said; “The Conservatives remain in the most ludicrous position of any political party in Europe—always willing the enlargement end and always opposing the enlargement means”.

Davey went on to add that the Liberal Democrats want a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union rather than one on the treaty.

Minister for Europe, Jim Murphy closed the debate. He said; “The treaty, which we will discuss for the weeks ahead, reflects the fact that Europe’s structures have not kept pace with that global and European transformation”.

He talked about “sensible improvements” the treaty will make such as the end of the rotating presidency. He also talked about the impact the treaty could have on issues such as Kosovo, our relationship with Russia and environmental policy.

 

House of Commons

1st reading: December 17 2007 [HC Bill 48]

2nd reading: January 21 2008

Committee of the Whole House:

• 1st sitting: January 29 2008
• 2nd sitting: January 30 2008
• 3rd sitting: February 5 2008
• 4th sitting: February 6 2008
• 5th sitting: February 20 2008
• 6th sitting February 25 2008
• 7th sitting February 26 2008
• 8th sitting: February 27 2008
• 9th sitting: March 3 2008
• 10th sitting: March 4 2008
• 11th sitting: March 5 2008

Remaining stages: March 11 2008

House of Lords

First reading: March 12 2008 [HL Bill 40]

Second reading: April 1 2008

European Union (Amendment) Bill committee:

• 1st sitting: April 22 2008
• 2nd sitting: April 29 2008
• 3rd sitting: May 6 2008
• 4th sitting: May 12 2008
• 5th sitting: May 14 2008
• 6th sitting: May 19 2008
• 7th sitting: May 20 2008

Report stage: 

• 1st day: June 4 2008
• 2nd day: June 9 2008
• 3rd day: June 11 2008
  

Third reading: June 18 2008

Royal Assent: June 19 2008