We woke up in a different country today. Alright, it doesn’t look very different. The trees still seem black against the winter sun; the motorways continue to jam inexplicably; commuters carry on avoiding eye contact. But Britain is no longer a sovereign nation. At midnight last night, we ceased to be an independent state, bound by international treaties to other independent states, and became instead a subordinate unit within a European state.
Yes, a European state. Take a quick dekko at the definition set out in Article One of the1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States: “The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states.”
Until yesterday, the EU qualified on grounds (a), (b) and (c). Now it has ticked the final box. Under the Lisbon Treaty, which came into force today, it acquires “legal personality”, which gives it the right to sign accords and treat with other states. Nor is this right simply theoretical: the EU now has a foreign minister, a diplomatic corps (the European External Action Service) and 160 overseas embassies.
Until yesterday, the EU could not annex additional policy areas without a new treaty, which needed to be ratified by all its constituent nations. Now, it has the so-called “passerelle” clause, or self-amending mechanism. Parliament, in other words, no longer has the final say on extensions of EU jurisdiction. The EU derives its authority, not from its 27 members, but from its own foundational texts.
Until yesterday, Britain could simply walk out of the EU by abrogating the Treaty of Rome and repealing the 1972 European Communities Act. Henceforth, it will have to go through the secession procedure laid down in Lisbon. In other words – in the minds of Euro-lawyers, at any rate, if not of British constitutionalists – the EU gets to settle the terms on which its members are allowed to leave. Formal sovereignty has been shifted from the national capitals to Brussels.
It is appalling, demeaning, disgraceful that such a thing should have been done without popular consent, and in the absence of the referendum that all three parties had promised. “There’s no point in crying over spilt milk,” you might say. True. But there is every point in mopping it up.
via @LogisticMonster Daniel Hannan, Lisbon Treaty & The Loss Of The UK’s Sovereignty .. http://bit.ly/8cR7fZ
no-nonsence-nancy on December 1, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Is this what we have to look forward to? Can BO do this to us even before the treaty is signed in Copenhagen? I say we need 10 million people in DC next week. Impossible, I know, but at least we need hugh tea parties all around the country. We have to stop this from happening to us. Thank God for these Britts who forewarn us of these things.
letty aka granny gripes on December 1, 2009 at 5:35 pm
It will be WORSE for the US, to become subordinate to the UN, that means 3rd world countries and communist countries and muslim countries will control our technology, our military, our medical advancements, our wealth, our legal system etc.
As Germany went under Hitler So goes the USA under OBAMA at warp speed!
Is this a wake up call, double efforts to educate your family, friends, associates, neighbors, etc.
there is a ray of light 71% are angry at the FEDERAL GOV HOWEVER, hopefully it is not too late:
NOW: calling a Marine, a Navy Seal, etc. to run against Pelosi! we have to get rid of that traitor.
“There’ll always be an England and England will be free If England means as much to you as England means to me.”
The Brits who set such a store by this song and it’s meaning must be very saddened by what has happened to this great empire. The loss of colonies mostly good, but the loss of their sovereignty? Very bad.
We need to learn a lesson here, folks, because TPTB are determined to bring the NAU into being in 2010 whether we like it or not.
Bill Barnes on December 2, 2009 at 5:25 am
I will not accept this type of subversion of our sovereignty and I hope all true Americans feel the same way.
P.S. Diamond, I am having problems getting your site. When I do, it runs very slowly, and when I try to go back to a posting again I get a sorry, can’t locate this page. Is anyone else having trouble, or is it just me? I haven’t been able to spend much time at the computer lately, so maybe it’s my system and I just haven’t noticed but I don’t seem to be having this same problem on other sites.
via @LogisticMonster Daniel Hannan, Lisbon Treaty & The Loss Of The UK’s Sovereignty .. http://bit.ly/8cR7fZ
Is this what we have to look forward to? Can BO do this to us even before the treaty is signed in Copenhagen? I say we need 10 million people in DC next week. Impossible, I know, but at least we need hugh tea parties all around the country. We have to stop this from happening to us. Thank God for these Britts who forewarn us of these things.
It will be WORSE for the US, to become subordinate to the UN, that means 3rd world countries and communist countries and muslim countries will control our technology, our military, our medical advancements, our wealth, our legal system etc.
As Germany went under Hitler
So goes the USA under OBAMA at warp speed!
Is this a wake up call, double efforts to educate your family, friends, associates, neighbors, etc.
there is a ray of light 71% are angry at the FEDERAL GOV
HOWEVER, hopefully it is not too late:
NOW: calling a Marine, a Navy Seal, etc. to run against Pelosi!
we have to get rid of that traitor.
A little light at the end of the tunnel, maybe.
Australia’s Parliament Rejects Cap and Trade.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/12/01/breaking-australias-parliament-rejects-cap-trade#comments
Remember the old song?
“There’ll always be an England and England will be free
If England means as much to you as England means to me.”
The Brits who set such a store by this song and it’s meaning must be very saddened by what has happened to this great empire.
The loss of colonies mostly good, but the loss of their sovereignty? Very bad.
We need to learn a lesson here, folks, because TPTB are determined to bring the NAU into being in 2010 whether we like it or not.
I will not accept this type of subversion of our sovereignty and I hope all true Americans feel the same way.
P.S. Diamond, I am having problems getting your site. When I do, it runs very slowly, and when I try to go back to a posting again I get a sorry, can’t locate this page. Is anyone else having trouble, or is it just me? I haven’t been able to spend much time at the computer lately, so maybe it’s my system and I just haven’t noticed but I don’t seem to be having this same problem on other sites.
Lee – is that any better now? 11am Wed.
Daniel Hannan, Lisbon Treaty & The Loss Of The UK’s Sovereignty To The EU … http://tinyurl.com/y87a9g9
Not really, I just got a “Internet explorer cannot locate this page” notice. I’ll be back later
RT @urwerthit: Daniel Hannan, Lisbon Treaty & The Loss Of The UK’s Sovereignty To The EU … http://tinyurl.com/y87a9g9
Daniel Hannan, Lisbon Treat… http://bit.ly/7BL6LE