Lisbon Treaty Negotiations Continue and Wind Down.

by C Murray Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:58

The UK and Poland had objected the the Rights Section of the EU Treaty with Brown sending
Blair back to renegotiate on the Failed constitution, anyway the 90% retention of the old Nice
Treaty that the media talks about consistently does not make mention of the European Convention
On Human Rights (which all member states were signed up to)- thats been dumped
due to a variety of National Objections. The Charter of Fundamental Rights is not in the Lisbon
Treaty but is attached as a protocol. Many of us do not really follow the Forum On Europe Roadshow
and it gets limited newsprint space so heres the link from July:-

http://www.forumoneurope.ie/index.asp?1ocID&docID1252

The Charter on Rights (article 3.3) is on Wiki which alludes to the Lisbon Treaty as the
Reform Treaty (it needs updating) ;- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Treaty
and the TransAtlantic Bilateral that Merkel negotiated in January 2006.

The FT interview discusses how Globalisation does not recognise Justice/Trade/political
barriers. Thus far the Lisbon Treaty has reduced National Vetos, may create a foreign policy
head and more permanent presidency and the Charter of Rights has been removed from
the treaty to the Position of a Protocol. The Roche interview regarding how this will operate
in terms of Human Rights in the Proposed wording is quite interesting.

by C Murray Mon Oct 22, 2007 14:35

UK and Ireland opted out on justice in the Lisbon Treaty (including sharing info on people Trafficking),
The Poles and the UK were unhappy at the Human Rights Charter in the failed Constitution and
Mainstream does not allude to the APC:-
The African, Caribbean Pacific Civil Society and the EU on FTAs* and EPAs,* but they are
the subject of much discussion elswhere.

C+P:-

"At present Economic Partnership Agreements(EPA's) are being negotiated between the EU
and 76 Afrcan , Caribbean and Pacific countries of which 39 are developed Countries.
EPAs are comprehensive Trade agreements that are set to force ACP regions to eliminate
Trade barriers to almost all EU imports. Many ACP countries have indicated that they are
not ready to sign such agreements, however the EU is threatening to reinstate higher
import duties on ACP exports and reduce aid to ACP countries if they do not sign the EPAs
by deadline December the 31st 2007."

That will be just after the contentious Lisbon Meeting, where the African Nations
are meeting with EU in Summit and is doing the publicity rounds because of an ongoing
row between Angela Merkel and Gordon Brown.Robert Mugabe has been invited to Lisbon which
Brown is taking issue with and refusing to meet him, Merkel states that she will meet him and
address the issues face to face with him.

In June 2000 the EU signed the Cotonou Agreement with the ACP countries which was a
trade treaty the agreement is set at the eradication of poverty and the contribution of
self-determined nations using sustainable farming methods to achieve fiscal independence.
African, Caribbean and Pacific states say that the Free trade agreements being pushed
by the EU go against the Trade Treaty and the principles of sustainable development.

The ACP also state that the EU has used
1. Stringent negotiation technique.
2.Time deadlines and pressures to enforce the EPAs by January the first 2008 when
they become effective.
3.They reduce the ACP countries ability to protect their own sustainable development
and protection of small markets, farmers and indigenous industry.
4They do not respect regional development strategies.
5.The EU does not ensure transparency and civil society participation- that is
allowing the voices of communities and NGO's in deciding and directing their own regional
development and listening to community need.

The Cotonou Agreement is at:-

http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=14772&Thisurl...stice
http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=7135

*FTA=Free Trade Agreement.
*EPA=Economic Partnership Agreements.

There are many the site:- http://www.bilaterals.org looks at some of them including the
CAFTA and the APC (Cotonou Treaty and the bi-lateral with the EU)

by C Murray Mon Oct 22, 2007 19:43

Most British Mainstream are publishing that the British people seek a referendum to ratify the
Treaty of Lisbon. Gordon Brown, speaking in the Commons ruled it out asserting that he
had ruled red-line areas for critical opt-outs , therby 'safeguarding the national interest'.
This is generally in the rights and justices areas- with both Ireland and the UK announcing
an opt-out in the week of the Lisbon negotiations. Poland and Britain had sought changes
in the rights area of the defunct constitution. The net result was to remove article 3.3
from the Treaty and attach it as protocol (Blair and Kazynski were the negotiators on this one).
The link to the Irish response is on the forum for Europe link in the comments above.
So the consistent referrals to 90% retention do not really refer to the removal of the
Convention on Rights article to Protocol nor the creation of a foreign policy head, in the
Irish media.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7052180.stm

http://www.recycledart.org/node/10101

In many ways Ireland has driven the corporate agenda in the EU especially in reference
to food issues and have leant heavily on independent producers- this can be
attested to by the Irish government's drive on the RDA issue and it's support for the multis
which has lead to some big campaigns on freedom of choice in food and medicine
consumer issues. Will add in link to the health shop campaigns and the Codex meeting in the
Golden triangle. The Irish media have not looked at the ACP issue and how the EU is forcing
the FTA's on producers through threat of raising export duties and aid reduction if the
ACP's do not sign the FTA's by 31st December 2007.[The links are in the comments above.]
The bilaterals site is well worth the read, wherin the African, Pacific and Caribbean nations
are claiming that the projected Lisbon meeting is in breach of the 2000 Contonou Treaty.*
There has been little or no parliamentary discussion or debate on the Lisbon Treaty
and how it effects commitment to Aid programmes, Free Trade Agreements, but alone how
if we do not accept it that Ireland will be left behind.
Gordon brown has given a three month timescale to debating all aspects of the Treaty before
seeking Parliamentary ratification, whereas we have a year but a well-established media
campaign which has presented the issue in a one-sided manner headlining pro-treaty
remarks by the Greens and no discussion on the treaty at all- except in the government financed
forum on europe.
*The Lisbon meeting is due to happen before the end of 2007, with the EU and AFrican nations
meeting on Trade agreements , the African, Caribbean and Pacific nations claim the
push for agreement is in breach of the 2000 Contonou Treaty. cf comments above.

by Link Tue Nov 27, 2007 20:02

Seriously there is a part of his website called -about Dick-

The Treaty leaflet will be published soon:- http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/1127/eu.html

Mr Roche assuredly hoping to get the treaty passed asked AG advice on
'Whether Ireland should have a referendum'....and expects the answer to be "positive'

http://www.dickroche.com - has nothing on the press releases, but the meeja got it...

by Link Thu Nov 29, 2007 13:10

http://www.forumoneurope.ie

The left hand column includes full transcripts of the pro-globalisation speeches by Minister Roche
and John Bruton, wherein the issue of parity and fair trade is reduced to the economic benefit to
the individual within the globalised economy. Mr Roche has issued denials that the Irish and UK
government will abdicate on rights-because of the removal of article 3.3 from the Lisbon Treaty.

(of course we all trust everything that Dick Roche and his cohorts do and say at this point)

John Bruton's transcripts detail the % benefit that globalisation has brought to the average US
family but how people perceive themselves to be unequally treated because of a wealth class
and an unequal share of the cash. interestingly no Irish politicians discuss the 2015 bi-lateral
with the US nor the imposition of high export duties on the Africas with concommitent
reduction in aid. I reckon the piddling 0.7% GDP would not be as necessary if the EU
were not in breach of trade agreement treaties and the Africas were not bullied into
the mass market ideology of both the EU and US.

The two governments that requested excision of the article on rights were Poland and Britain.
Blair and Kazsinski (right wing proto-catholics).

Roche's stuff:- http://www.forumoneurope.ie/index.asp?IocID=366+docID=1252

Trawl down the left hand column and look at how they are preventing political debate
on issues regarding US and Africa by focussing on the economic benefits of a globalised
culture.

[Mr Roche has applied to the AG to examine whether a referendum is necessary,
preferring the ratification by Parliament option, but expects that the AG will give a
'positive' response'.

by Ping Sun Jan 13, 2008 16:25

Tony Blair spent yesterday in Paris at the HQ of the French Conservative Party
setting out his vision for a united europe, backed by the French, in which he described
left and right wing politics as 'redundant'. (this is from the Guardian).
Tony Blair is currently heading up the Quartet and recently converted to RC
(by Benedict XVI). he may be remembered for his 'hard decisions' on War, and his
work within the 'Coalition of the Willing' in iraq. In the meantime Mr Bush is banging
the Drum on Iran (Irish Times Frontpage) and 'Global security). Blair's former chancellor
is thinking of Chipping HMG prisoners.

Tony Blair intends to become the first President of Europe and is setting his store
in an Anglo-French Alliance... which is really wonderful news for anyone who does not
buy into Chauvinistic Nationalisms and illegal war.