RESOLVED to continue the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity,They have been there in the Preamble and ignored by British negotiators, civil servants, politicians and sundry members of the commentariat ever since the Treaty of Rome, signed by the six in 1957 and certainly given scant attention since 1972.
Though I am pleasantly surprised to hear that there is a Prime Minister and, indeed, a leader of a main party in this country who has noted this item and has expressed a desire to get rid of it, I cannot help wondering exactly how he thinks he will go about achieving this.
I did scoff at Cameron's suggestion. Its not just in the Treaty of Rome that he needs to look but in the name of the organisation that we are a member of. It's a bit of a give away.
ReplyDeletehttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/union
The text itself is a masterclass in what Orwell called doublethink, the ability to simultaneously believe two completely contradictory thoughts. An ever closer union means more powers taken to the centre, which contradicts decisions being taken closer to the citizen.
ReplyDeleteWell, it is in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity.
Deleteit's one thing to remove the words but another entirely to remove the intent.
ReplyDelete