SPEECH BY UEF PRESIDENT ANDREW DUFF MEP

Speech by Andrew Duff MEP delivered to EUROPA UNION DEUTSCHLAND ANNUAL CONGRESS on Sat 22nd Nov 2008

Thank you for asking me to address you here today.

Lest we get too depressed about the present state of affairs, let us rejoice that, on Thursday night, the Swedish parliament's completion of the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon brought to 24 the number of states that are now ready to implement it.

This would be good news for federalists were it not for the fact that three other countries so far refuse to ratify the Treaty they negotiated and signed.

We should recall that the Treaty of Lisbon will contribute decisively towards overcoming the democratic shortcomings of the European Union -- notably by strengthening of the role of the European Parliament and national parliaments, by introducing the citizens' initiative, by entrenching the individual and social rights of European citizens in the Charter made binding, and by making the Council more transparent. The fact is that the institutional reforms contained in the Treaty of Lisbon are urgently needed in order to ensure that the European Union functions smoothly and in a balanced manner, with full democratic scrutiny.

Unfortunately, it now looks as though we go next year into the European elections and the setting up of a new European Commission without knowing which institutional provisions will apply to either the Parliament or the Commission. How can we in good faith ask citizens to vote for a Parliament whose powers are uncertain?

How can we turn the European election campaign into a debate about what policies we wish the EU to deliver when we are still condemned to be turning over the same stale arguments about powers, instruments, procedures and sovereignty? Where is the great debate between the European political parties about the choice of candidates and policy programmes? How does the current crisis impact upon EU politics?

How much of our sceptical and even cynical public opinion will take it on trust that the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon will really bring about rapid and substantial policy achievements in the fields of combating climate change, energy security, fighting terrorism and organised crime -- or in helping to regenerate productive investment and employment.

No Lisbon, of course, means no further enlargement of the Union -- failing to project the EU's stability and prosperity eastwards and southwards. Even Croatia's entry is in doubt unless we can bring Lisbon into force -- to say nothing of Iceland or Norway or Turkey or the Western Balkans.

We all know that recent international developments like the conflict between Russia and Georgia, the financial crisis and the increase of energy prices make it clear that the European Union needs to play a much more coordinated and coherent role in world affairs. Without Lisbon this will not happen.

Without Lisbon we cannot appoint the Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, establish the external action service or create the much needed, longer-term Presidency of the European Council.

Moreover, we should all by now be prepared to expect more unexpected or unpredictable developments which will throw our continent into greater insecurity and cause others to doubt Europe's good faith and capacity to act effectively in world affairs.

So the federalist message today is: let us reaffirm our own endorsement of the Treaty and the need for its ratification in all the Member States of the Union as soon as possible.

We must insist that all possible efforts be deployed to ensure that the Treaty of Lisbon can enter into force before the European elections of 2009.

Let us recall that if we have to work under the Treaty of Nice, the number of Commissioners in the new Commission must be less than the number of members states. Any government that wishes to volunteer to sacrifice its Commissioner is welcome to step forward!

The Czech Republic and Poland must get on with ratification, and not be held to ransom by their respective, eurosceptic, eccentric heads of state.

Having followed Irish matters closely, I do really appreciate the in-depth analysis now being undertaken by the Irish government and parliament of the causes for the negative outcome of the referendum. We look forward to receiving Ireland's proposals about how it intends to manage in future its membership of the EU in a way which, at the same time, will allow the other states to proceed to reform the Union's institutions and strengthen the Union's capacity to act on the world stage.

We are fully aware of the many concerns expressed by Irish citizens in the context of the referendum. Clearly, interpretative declarations glued on the Treaty can address some major misapprehensions. But, nevertheless, there can be no substantive renegotiation of the Lisbon treaty.

The European Council of 11-12 December must reach a definitive agreement which will open the way for Ireland to resume the ratification procedure as speedily as possible. That is what the French presidency hopes to achieve. M. Sarkozy needs the support and encouragement of all those who wish Europe well.

If I may venture as a British European to give you advice, the Franco-German partnership has never been more important in the history of the continent we share. There is only one Europe. Vive l'Europe!