Europe at centre of British election campaign? The Community institutions and bodies have no business in the forthcoming general election in the United Kingdom and even less reason to take a position on the issue. However, at same time, nobody can ignore the fact that the polls are indicating a Conservative victory and that the leaders of this party are not holding back when it comes to what they intend to do in the European arena once they come to power. European policy is becoming the challenge. They consider Eurosceptic arguments as a weapon, as well as a bolster that this line assures them in a large part of the local press. It is inevitable that Community actors are implicated because the debate is also taking place at the European Parliament: the Conservatives often take an active position in the Europe for Freedom and Democracy group of which they are members; other British parliamentarians answer to them in favour of a constructive role of the Conservatives in Europe (Edward McMillan-Scott) or quite clearly in favour of European integration (Andrew Duff).
In London, David Cameron was resigned to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty but announced a referendum on this subject. He also explained that he intended to introduce the obligation of referendums into British legislation before any future transfer of powers to the EU. If he becomes the next prime minister, he also intends to negotiate with European partners on returning powers currently delegated to the EU to the national authorities with regard to EU social legislation, labour law, justice and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, in order to “prevent a shift towards a federalist Europe”. Nonetheless, he did provide assurances that the negotiations he envisaged would be patient and respectful and far from seeking conflict, the United Kingdom, under a Conservative government, would be an active member of the EU and would do nothing to obstruct its functioning. Mr Cameron already sees himself as a member of the European Council.
In Brussels, Timothy Kirkhope, head of the Conservative MEPs at the EP considers that Mr Cameron's position is a “clear and honest policy” and recognises that the EU can play a positive role in areas such as climate change, the fight against poverty in the world and British economic expansion. At the same time, the Eurossceptic Open Europe group approved the restitution of social policy, a subject that, in its opinion, is purely national, and called on the British authorities not to hesitate to use its veto in future negotiations on EU financial perspectives. The most Eurosceptic Conservatives continue to call for a global referendum on relations with Europe, to the extent that Mr McMillan-Scott called on Mr Cameron to expel two rebel MPs, Daniel Hannan and Roger Helmer, from the party. We can see that it is impossible to prevent some of the British election campaign spilling out in to Brussels.
Vaclav Klaus has “conscience clause”. In his signing of the Lisbon Treaty ratification, President Vaclav Klaus declared: “With the entry into force of this treaty, the Czech Republic ceases to be a sovereign state”. This is as respectable opinion as is any but Klaus may have perhaps forgotten that he has an instrument whereby he will not have to preside over his country if it loses its sovereignty. Jean-Guy Giraud pointed out in one of his notes to the “Friends of Europe”, that Article 61 of the Czech constitution states, “the President of the Republic can renounce his functions as President of the Chamber of Deputies” (namely that of the institution that elected him). Mr Giraud also commented: “This article can be considered as a conscience clause. If the president believes, in his soul and conscience and for reasons of strong personal conviction, that he cannot sign an act of Parliament, he must consider the possibility of his withdrawal. Even more so if the act in question had been adopted by qualified majority at parliament and it focuses on a negotiated treaty and signed by the government”.
Error and ignorance. The decision by the European Court of Rights condemning the presence of crucifixes in Italian schools has provoked a lot of astonished reactions in Italy, even indignation. Moreover, this decision has been attributed to the EU, which has nothing to do with it. Some journalists tried to explain that the Council of Europe is a body without real powers of 47 countries, was set up in 1949, and includes Azerbaijan and Moldova. But the ill has been committed and the partially common centre in Strasbourg has helped to contribute to the public mixing up the two. I believe that the EU is right not to intervene in domains relating to tradition, ways of life and people's convictions and people should be left to choose, as they deem appropriate.
(F.R./transl.rh)