Ever Closer Union

An outline of the various treaties enacted since the Rome Treaty show how there has been a constant move towards “ever closer union”.

Treaty of Rome

Treaty of Rome The Treaty of Rome was the founding treaty of the European Economic Community (EEC), which later became the EU. The treaty focused overwhelmingly on economic co-operation, but it also set out a wider political vision for 'an ever closer union' to 'eliminate the barriers which divide Europe'.

It was fundamentally an economic institution but nevertheless, the supranational model of European integration on which it was based created the foundation for the development of the European Union in the 1990s.

The Treaty set out an impossible goal of creating a united Europe - ignoring the cultural and linguistic barriers that divide the continent.
The Treaty was fundamentally confused: while at one level it aimed to promote economic co-operation, it tried to do this through an undemocratic and unnecessary political apparatus.
The institutions that were created are distant and unfamiliar. In their original form they allowed many decisions to be made behind closed doors thus discouraging open debate and participation.

Maastricht Treaty (January 1978)

The word “economic” was dropped from the title and the Euro was established which was another step towards a supranational model. Control was extended to the areas of foreign policy, military, criminal justice and judicial cooperation. Another step forward

Amsterdam Treaty (May 1st 1999)

It made substantial changes to the Treaty of Maastricht, which had been signed in 1992 by increasing powers of the European Parliament in diverse areas including new abilities to legislate on immigration, civil and criminal law and to enact foreign and security policy (CFSP), as well as institutional changes for expansion as new member nations of the EU join. Not really part of ever closer union?

Nice Treaty (February 1st 2003)

The main purpose of the Treaty was to facilitate the major EU enlargement (10 new states) which was to follow. Opponents of the Treaty claimed that it was a "technocratic" rather than "democratic" treaty, which would further diminish the sovereignty of national and regional parliaments, and would further concentrate power into a centralised and unaccountable bureaucracy. Ever closer union.

Lisbon Treaty (1st December 2007)

“After negative referendums in the Netherlands and France in 2005 on the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe, Member States abandoned this treaty and after a period of reflection, drew up another treaty which was signed in Lisbon on 13 December 2007. The Treaty of Lisbon came into force on 1 December 2009. Lisbon was an attempt to make the EU more democratic, more transparent and more efficient. It led to the appointment of a number of a number of new posts including President of the European Council and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, which was filled by Baroness Catherine Ashton. The UK Government maintained an opt-in provision regarding the former Justice and Home Affairs matters, in the new Area of Freedom, Security and Justice”

A neat and glib summary of the passage of the Lisbon Treaty by www.parliament.uk and no mention of how the Irish were shoe-horned into accepting the Treaty. As ever the UK voter was given no referendum despite promises made to the contrary.

The Treaty was on the table one minute as a Treaty, then removed and then like a conjuror’s sleight of hand it came back as an amendment which just required ratification by each member state without a need for a referendum. Gordon Brown, PM at the time slipped in and signed it when all had gone home. Beating his chest at the time and promising a referendum, Cameron then excused himself by saying that Brown had already ratified it and so he could do nothing.

Now read how the Irish felt and comments made in the UK at the time.

https://www.corbettreport.com/articles/20090821_lisbon_facts.htm

Back to “Ever closer Union”.

The following are likely to be Cameron’s key areas of reform:

Exempting Britain from the principle of 'ever-closer union'
Introducing a 'red card' rule to allow national governments to come together to block Brussels regulations
Protection of the single market, as eurozone countries integrate more
Major curbs on benefits claims for migrants, including blocking access to the dole for four years and ending child benefit being exported across Europe

Ever Closer Union – The European Council said in June 2014 that “the concept of ever closer union allows for different paths of integration for different countries, allowing those that want to deepen integration to move ahead, while respecting the wish of those who do not want to deepen any further”.

There is debate over just how important these words are. Sir William Cash, a Conservative MP, said last month that:“even if the words ‘ever-closer union’ were removed from treaties in the future, it would not change any of our existing EU obligations and laws, nor fundamentally change our relationship with the EU under the existing treaties”. Fullfact.org checked this out and came up with the same conclusion. Merkel has assured Cameron that she will not press the UK into ever closer union – she does not have to as the treaties will do the work for her. At some time in the next two years Cameron will announce his huge breakthrough on this issue waving his equivalent of “peace in our time” in his hand. Read more…

https://fullfact.org/live/2015/nov/why_worry_ever_closer_union-49331

“Red card rule – – he may obtain a promise but it would be meaningless considering that 3,600 rules/regulations emanated from the EU between 2010 and 2013. A lot of red cards to deal with.

Protection of the single market – how long does Cameron think the Eurozone is going to last?

Major curbs on benefits - Mrs Merkel has made clear she backs the idea of limiting access to benefits claimed by migrants moving around Europe.In November the European Court of Justice ruled that jobless EU migrants cannot move around the continent living off state handouts – and have no right to move to another country if they cannot support themselves. It ruled against a Romanian single mother who moved to Germany without a job, and made no effort to look for work, but demanded benefits designed for jobseekers.

If all of this is the case why do we have daily reports both in the UK and in the EU of migrants claiming and obtaining their “rights” to benefits. The only way of controlling all of this is for the UK to control its borders – this is not going to happen and Merkel has made this clear throughout her discussions with Cameron. Note that controlling borders has not appeared on his list of things to do. Read more on benefits…

https://fullfact.org/immigration/welfare_benefits-44747

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2900454/Cameron-hail-Merkel-key-ally-battle-claw-powers-Brussels-Germany-backs-benefits-clampdown.html#ixzz3qdQuTZqx

In summary

Ever Closer Union will continue to happen via Treaties, Directives and Regulations.
We have 28 Commissioners appointed by each member state of the EU. They do not represent their own governments – they are there to implement the EU aims. They and they alone are responsible for raising and implementing legislation
A President is appointed from one of the Commissioners, not elected by the people of the EU
Just one of the unelected Commissioners represents the EU at the World Trade Organisation
The EU parliament is not much more than a talking shop – they do not raise any legislation
The European Arrest Warrant is in place which enables citizens to be arrested without charge or evidence – a dangerous instrument of state much used by Stalin
Merkel appears to be a self appointed leader/dictator of the EU. She makes decisions prior to discussing it with the EU. Everything is prefaced with Merkel will or will not agree to ….
The EU is accountable to no one and corruption is “breathtaking” – words from a Commissioner http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26014387?SThisFB

How many years will it take before we have crossed the point of no return?

We are the last generation which will be able to take back our independence