The EU is here to stay... so have a say

Jun 3 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

THE European Union will soon have more say over how we live than ever before, yet voter turnout is declining at every poll. Adrian Pearson looks at why the EU should matter.

CONVENTIONAL wisdom has it that MEPs are the lowest rung on the ladder of European power, first set up as a vague attempt to bring some democratic accountability to the Union.

This is changing. And as the EU grows in power, so too does the importance of having vocal MEPs who are committed to getting the job done.

With our domestic politicians working in a system whereby the Government is all powerful and the backbencher whipped into toeing the party line, it is fair to say our MEPs have more say than your average MP.

We can already see that with our present three MEPs. If you are helping legislation pass through the European Parliament, as was most recently the case with Fiona Hall and climate change rules, then you can identify specific lines which you have helped craft. Few of the North East’s many backbench MPs can say they have even come close to that.

And if the Lisbon Treaty, feared by many, loved by few, is enacted some of our MEPs will be more comparable to a low-level cabinet minister than an ordinary MEP. That powerful new group is unlikely to include the Conservatives as Tory boss David Cameron has decided to take his MEPs out of the most powerful grouping. In an effort to appease eurosceptics he will move his team into a more right of centre group, meaning his MEPs will no longer be a part of the group that forms the majority of EU legislation. Instead Labour and the Lib Dems are likely to benefit more from the changes, if the Lisbon Treaty comes into effect in January. Here, again, David Cameron causes problems. The Tories have promised a referendum on the treaty if they are elected before Lisbon becomes law. If this goes ahead and the country votes against the reforms, the EU will have two choices. They can either change the entire nature of European co-operation to suit a country few European leaders care much for; or they can ignore us and in effect make the UK a second-class partner in the Union.