EP looks forward to Lisbon Treaty

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament has voted on a draft report by Richard Corbett and Iñigo Méndez de Vigo on the Treaty of Lisbon. The Committee, at last, looks forward to the rapid publication of the consolidated Treaties as revised by the Treaty of Lisbon, in order to inform European citizens clearly and objectively about the content of the Treaty.

Knowing well that the Council has refused publication before the Treaties are in force, it would be better if the European Parliament rapidly published the consolidated Treaties in all the official languages of the EU (especially the 15 missing language versions), instead of ‘looking forward’ to the unlikely event.

The draft report approved by 20 votes to 6 contained the following conclusions, to be voted on by a plenary session in February, where the European Parliament:


“7. Believes that this Treaty will provide a stable and lasting framework for the future
development of the Union;

8. Endorses the Treaty and hopes that all Member States of the Union will be in a position to
achieve its ratification by 1 January 2009;

9. Is aware that an amending treaty is inevitably less clear and readable than a codified
treaty, but looks forward to the rapid publication of the consolidated Treaties as revised by
the Treaty of Lisbon, which will provide citizens with a clearer basic text of the Union;

10. Reiterates its request that all possible efforts be deployed, both by EU institutions and
national authorities in accordance with the principle of sincere cooperation, in order to
inform European citizens clearly and objectively about the content of the Treaty;

11. Instructs its committee responsible to prepare the necessary changes to its Rules of
Procedure and to assess the needs for further implementing measures;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution and the report of the Committee on
Constitutional Affairs to the national parliaments of the Member States, to the Council, to
the European Commission and to the former Members of the Convention on the Future of
Europe, and to ensure that Parliament's services, including its external offices, provide
ample information about Parliament's position on the Treaty.”


Ralf Grahn


Sources:

European Parliament, Committee on Constitutional Affairs: Draft Report on the Treaty of Lisbon (2007/0000(INI); Rapporteurs: Richard Corbett and Iñigo Méndez de Vigo

European Parliament, Press service: Reasons to ratify the Lisbon Treaty this year; 23-01-2008