---

Lisbon Treaty (No. 3)

I look forward to hearing from my right hon. Friend about the rights of children, which the treaty fundamentally improves. However, it is clear that parts of article 137—article 153 of the consolidated treaty—will be subject to a passerelle clause. I am thinking of"““protection of workers where their employment contract is terminated…the information and consultation of workers….representation and collective defence of the interests of workers and employers, including co-determination””." Should the passerelle be applied, those provisions might be subject to qualified majority voting rather than unanimity, and this country could lose its veto. Other countries could decide to override it if they gained a majority in the Council.