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European Council: 23-24 March 2006

My Lords, may I press the Minister on the question asked by my noble friend Lord Howell of Guildford about whether the Council made any progress on the future of the European constitution? I refer to the fact that the Statement makes so bold as to criticise the lack of democratic authority of the new regime in Belarus. Will the Minister say something about the creeping EU constitution, which also lacks democratic support? He admitted himself in a Written Answer on 11 January that the Fundamental Rights Agency and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights are proceeding in a legal vacuum. I do not know whether the Government noticed Commission President Barroso’s answer to Mr Daniel Hannan MEP a week ago—reply no. E-0429/06—in which Mr Barroso brazenly stated that the legal basis for the European External Action Service is article III-296(3) of the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe, which does not exist. Mr Barroso gave similarly implausible justifications for the European Defence Agency and the European space programme, both of which are also proceeding full steam ahead. How do the Government justify their support for these illegal acts?