The Guardian, Letter , 13 December 2007
We welcome today’s signing of the Reform Treaty by the UK government and other EU member states.
It signals a long-awaited response to the enlargement of the European Union, now standing at 27 member states. This policy of enlargement has been a remarkable success story, acting as a catalyst of change for countries joining the EU and galvanising the UK and the other established member states.
The Reform Treaty will equip the European Union with the tools it needs both to adapt its institutions to its enlarged membership and also to face its future policy challenges.
We believe that the reforms in the Treaty will lead to more efficient, effective and democratic decision-making. The permanent presidency for the European Council will bring more consistency and coherence to the EU’s agenda. The changes to the Council’s voting procedure, switching to a double majority of member states and population, will be fairer and simpler, also increasing the UK’s voting weight by 45%. A single High Representative for foreign affairs will help the Union be more forceful and effective in dealing with international external challenges such as energy supply, regional conflict and climate change negotiations.
The Treaty has been subject to many inaccurate and hyperbolic claims. It does not impinge on the UK’s permanent seat on the Security Council, for example. We do hope that the much needed debate on the Treaty in the UK concentrates on the facts rather than fiction, and believe it imperative that Parliament give its full and proper scrutiny.
Coalition for Reform Treaty Member Organisations
Roland Rudd
Chairman, Business for New Europe,
Mary Creagh MP
Chair, Labour Movement for Europe,
Baroness Joyce Quin
House of Lords and chair of the all-party group on Europe
Robert Moreland
Deputy Chairman, Conservative Group for Europe
Jonathan Fryer
London Representative, Liberal Democrat European Group
Brendan Donnelly
Chairman, Federal Union,
Graham Bishop
European League of Economic Cooperation,
Dr John Ryan
Jean Monnet Association,
Peter Luff
Chairman, European Movement,
Dr Olaf Cramme
Acting director, Policy Network,
Nick Crosby
Director, Jean Monnet Circle
Henning Meyer
Head of European Programme, Global Policy institute
Alex Bigham
Head of communication, Foreign Policy Centre
Sasha Havlicek,
Executive Director, Weidenfeld Institute for Strategic Dialogue