THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2008
On Thursday 13 November, the Committee on Foreign Affairs decided to support the Government's proposal to approve the EU's Lisbon Treaty. This position has the backing of five of the seven parties represented in the Riksdag (the Social Democratic Party, Moderate Party, Centre Party, Liberal Party and Christian Democrats). The Riksdag will debate and take a decision on the matter on Thursday 20 November. In its report 2008/09:UU8 on the Lisbon Treaty, the Committee on Foreign Affairs considers Government Bill 2007/08:168 The Lisbon Treaty, as well as motions submitted in response to the Bill and a number of motions from the 2008 general private members’ motions period.Europe currently faces some considerable challenges, as well as opportunities. With the Lisbon Treaty, EU member states can take more effective joint action on cross-border matters. The Committee considers that the Lisbon Treaty is better than the treaty currently in force. The Lisbon Treaty strengthens the EU in some important areas.
The EU’s work procedures are not adapted to an enlarged EU under the current treaty. The Lisbon Treaty makes continued enlargement possible, at the same time as it strengthens the influence of national parliaments. In the opinion of the Committee, the Lisbon Treaty will make the Union both more open and more efficient without having a negative impact on the fundamental balance between the Union’s actors. The Charter of Fundamental Rights will help to entrench the Union's core values. The Committee shares opinions presented in motions that the Lisbon Treaty delimits the tasks of the Union and describes them more clearly than before. The Treaty also gives the Union better tools with which to meet the challenges of globalisation in areas of concern to the citizens, for example, in fighting cross-border crime and climate change. It also enables it to be a strong actor in the field of foreign policy to support peace, security and human rights, where the Union, on the basis of the Lisbon Treaty, can act in a more coherent way internationally. The Lisbon Treaty thus gives the EU better prospects for dealing with the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Approval of the Lisbon Treaty and the protocols signed in the final act of the Treaty can take place in accordance with current constitutional provisions. Sweden’s accession to the Treaty does not require any amendments to Ch. 10, Art. 5, paragraph 1 of the Instrument of Government or to any other constitutional provisions. Neither is the transfer of decision-making rights required in the Lisbon Treaty of such a nature that it conflicts with provisions in Ch.10, Art. 5, paragraph 1 of the Instrument of Government. The Committee proposes in the report that the Riksdag take both the decision on the transfer of decision-making rights required by the Lisbon Treaty and the decision to endorse the Lisbon Treaty with a three-quarter majority of the members voting, in accordance with Ch.10, Art. 5, paragraph 1 of the Instrument of Government. In the light of the uncertainty that exists as to when the ratification process will be completed in all member states and when the Lisbon Treaty can come into force, the Committee considers that the day for the coming into force of amendments in the Accession Act (1994:1500) should not be established in the Act itself. Instead it should be stipulated that the Act on amendments to the Accession Act come into force on the date decided by the Government.
Annexed to the report are eight reservations and two separate statements of opinion. The Left Party and the Green Party have entered reservations and propose that the Riksdag, rejecting the Government Bill, should not endorse the Lisbon Treaty or decide to transfer decision-making rights to the EU. In a reservation, the Social Democratic Party has also drawn attention to certain labour market issues for future consideration. For further information: please contact Martin Brothén, Secretary to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, tel: +46-8-786 54 49 or +46-762 18 00 49.
Magnus KorkalaThe Information Department, tel: +46-8-786 40 79