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EU Constitutional Treaty

My Lords, reference has also been made to the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, but that was directed specifically to the institutions of the European Union; it was proclaimed by the institutions of the Union and there are numerous safeguards of national laws and procedures in that document. The supremacy of European law has been referred to, but that is only in the areas of competence of the European Union, and that is not a new subject. Anyone who reads the debates that took place in your Lordships’ House at the time that decisions were taken to apply for membership and subsequently join will see that that has ever been the case. We must learn from what has occurred. The treaty was called a constitution when it was not a constitution. The concept of sovereign member states was maintained throughout. Everything that has been achieved in Europe has been done voluntarily by actions and agreements taken by democratically elected governments, and references to ““imposition”” are inaccurate and unfortunate. If all this is to have any chance of success, political leaders must be prepared to lead. They must start talking about the European Union as if it is something to which we as a nation belong, an institution in which we are part of the decision-making process. They must stop taking the sole credit for the good things that have been agreed in the Council and stop blaming the EU, the Commission and Brussels for the unpopular decisions to which they have also been party. Our leaders must stop trying to outbid each other for the benediction of the Euro-sceptic press, and we should stop too frequently appearing to relish the political discomfort of some of our principal partners in the European Union. They must go out and be prepared to proclaim what the European Union has achieved, why it is important for our economy, peace and security, and why changes must happen if that is to continue.