Brown seeks swift conclusion to EU treaty row
Monday, 17 December 2007 12:00 AM
The EU reform treaty will mark the last attempt to reform the structures of the European Union for some time, the prime minister said today.
Introducing the treaty to MPs, Gordon Brown said he would "oppose any further institutional change in the relationships between the EU and its member states, not just for this parliament but for the next".
He added: "I stand by that commitment".
Mr Brown said the union was moving towards a "new agenda" to meet the "challenges of the global era".
He told MPs the EU treaty addresses the need for institutional reform, which would now not need to be revisited for the "foreseeable future".
The Conservatives welcomed the implication the EU will move away from a focus on institutional reform but reiterated their calls for a referendum on the EU treaty.
Mr Brown's commitment to the EU reform treaty, which was negotiated by Tony Blair in June, has been called into question.
Last week, Mr Brown failed to attend the official signing ceremony alongside other European heads of government, blaming a diary clash.
The prime minister was accused of "rudeness" in snubbing the event but Number 10 has insisted the row is "a lot of fuss over nothing".
The Liberal Democrats today attempted to reignite criticism of Mr Brown, insisting he had been either incompetent, discourteous or dishonest over the EU treaty signing.
Acting Lib Dem leader Vince Cable said: "If he was the only EU head of government who couldn't sort out his diary he was incompetent.
"If he couldn't be bothered to make the effort he was discourteous.
"And if he was trying to distance himself from a treaty he had agreed he was being dishonest."
Mr Cable said the whole episode had reflected badly on Britain and asked how the government expected the bill to pass through parliament if Mr Brown "cannot be bothered to put himself out".
In what is likely to be his last Commons appearance before Christmas, the prime minister today introduced the EU amendment bill, which provides a legislative path for the treaty.
The prime minister said: "Parliament will now have the opportunity to debate this amending treaty in detail and decide whether to implement it. We will ensure sufficient time for debate on the floor of the house so that the bill is examined in the fullest of detail and all points of view can be heard.
"This will give the house the full opportunity to consider this treaty, and the deal secured for the UK, before ratification.
He added: "In addition, I can tell the House that we have built into the legislation further safeguards to ensure proper Parliamentary oversight and accountability."
Responding to Mr Brown, David Cameron repeated calls for a public ratification of the treaty, warning the prime minister cannot restore trust in politics without a referendum.
Mr Cameron argued the government's claim the treaty is not a constitution - and therefore exempt from its manifesto pledge for a public vote - "simply won't wash".
The Conservative leader said: "Doesn't he see that this sort of approach makes him look shifty and untrustworthy?
"Doesn't he see that, far from it getting him out of his troubles, denying people a referendum is just digging him in deeper?"
The Liberal Democrats have dismissed calls for a referendum on the EU treaty as a sideshow, arguing instead the government should hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU as a whole.
Mr Cable said today this would be the only way to establish some legitimacy for the European project.
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