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Green Party policy on the EU Constitution
Read more about: Europe, Government, Green Party, Manifesto Check
Now that there’s a deal in Brussels on the drafting of a new EU treaty and confirmation from Bertie that it will require a referendum, it’s worth taking a look at the Green manifesto position on the EU. There’s enough wiggle room to allow them to play along with the Brussels deal, although there will be an argument that the new treaty is just a dressed up version of what France rejected, and the deal calls for an Intergovernmental Conference, not a Convention, to write the treaty. Compared to what the Greens have already accepted on Shannon and the M3, probably not enough to force a participation crisis.
I voted for Amsterdam and Nice but am totally opposed to this for the following reasons:
A: We lose our Commissioner from 2014.
B: In spite of the UK getting an opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights which over-rides national constitutions, Ireland gets no such opt-out.
C: The rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers is abolished in favour of a candidate elected by the EU govts - meaning Ireland will lose its equal chance to set the EU agenda.
This is crunch time for the european project. Either advance towards a european super state or not. I will be voting no for some of the reason outlined by BB and also on an principle of the ongoing 35 year nibbling away of irelands independence.
Sargeant was discussing this on the radio over the weekend. Effectively he said that he’ll consult with the members of the party, but they’ll have to put up and shut up as part of being in Government.