AMENDMENT TO: Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union= and the Treaty establishing the European Community (Brussels, 3 December 2007)<= /title> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"country-region"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=3DEN-US style=3D'tab-interval:36.0pt'> <div class=3DSection1> HUMAN RIGHTS:<o:p></o:p> <st1:place = w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on">LISB= ON</st1:City></st1:place> TREATY WILL IMPOSE SANCTIONS<o:= p></o:p> BASED ON EU PERCEPTION (NOT REALITY) OF <o:p></o:p> APPLICATION OF RIGHTS IN <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place = w:st=3D"on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p> [ARTICLE 7]<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <table class=3DMsoTableGrid border=3D0 cellspacing=3D0 cellpadding=3D0 style=3D'border-collapse:collapse;mso-yfti-tbllook:480;mso-padding-alt:0cm= 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'> <tr style=3D'mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes'> <td width=3D581 valign=3Dtop style=3D'width:436.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm= 5.4pt'> <o:p> </o:p></= p> AMENDMENT TO: Treaty of <st1:C= ity w:st=3D"on">Lisbon</st1:City> amending the Treaty on European Union and t= he Treaty establishing the European Community (<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:C= ity w:st=3D"on">Lisbon</st1:City></st1:place>, 13 December 2007)<o:p></o:p><= /span> </td> </tr> </table> = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = <o:p></o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'> Policy Area: <o:p></o:p> Treaty= on European Union, Title I, Common Provisions, Article 7<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'> Amendment:<o:p></o:p> Clause= 2, page 1, line 12, after ‘excluding’ insert –<o:p></o:p></s= pan> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> ‘= ;(i) Article 2, paragraph 7, amendments to Article 7 TEU relating to breach of principles; and<o:p></o:p> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> (ii)’. <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'> <st1:place w:st=3D"on"= ><st1:City w:st=3D"on">Lisb= on</st1:City></st1:place> Treaty Article:<o:p></o:p></spa= n> “Article 7 shall be amended as follows:<o:p= ></o:p> (a) throughout the Article, the word "assent" shall be replaced by "consent", the reference = to breach "of principles mentioned in Article 6(1)" shall be replace= d by a reference to breach "of the values referred to in Article 1a", = the words "of this Treaty" shall be replaced by "of the Treaties" and the word "Commission" shall be replaced by<o:p= ></o:p> "European Commission";<o:p></o:p></span= > (b) at the end of the first sentence of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1, the words "and address appropriate recommendations to that State" shall be deleted; at the end of the last sentence, the words "and, acting in accordance with the same procedure, may call on independent persons to submit within a reasonable time limit a report on the situation in the Member State in question" shall be repl= aced by "and may address recommendations to it, acting in accordance with t= he same procedure.";<o:p></o:p> (c) in paragraph 2, the words "The Council, meeting in the composition of the Heads of<o:p></o= :p> State or Government and acting by unanimity" shall be replaced by "The European<o:p></o:p> Council, acting by unanimity" and the words "the government of the <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceNam= e> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType> in question" shall be replaced by "the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:Pla= ceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in question";<o:p></o:p= > (d) paragraphs 5 and 6= shall be replaced by the following:<o:p></o:p> "5. The voting arrangements applying to the European Parliament, the European<o:p></o:p> Council and the Council for the purposes of this Article are laid down in Article 309 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union."<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'> Consolidated Treaty Article(s):<= o:p></o:p> “Article 7 <o:p></o:p></= span> 1. On a reasoned proposal by o= ne third of the Member States, by the European Parliament or by the Commission, the Council, acting by a majority of four fifths of its members after obtai= ning the assent of the European Parliament, may determine that there is a clear = risk of a serious breach by a Member State of principles mentioned in Article 6(= 1), and address appropriate recommendations to that State. Before making such a determination, the Council shall hear the <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member= </st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType> in question and, acting in accordance with the same procedure, may call on independent persons to subm= it within a reasonable time limit a report on the situation in the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceTyp= e w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in question.<o:p></o:p> The Council shall regularly ve= rify that the grounds on which such a determination was made continue to apply.&= #8221;<o:p></o:p> 2. The Council, meeting in the composition of the Heads of State or Government and acting by unanimity on a proposal by one third of the Member States or by the Commission and after o= btaining the assent of the European Parliament, may determine the existence of a ser= ious and persistent breach by a Member State of principles mentioned in Article 6(1), after inviting the government of the Member State in question to subm= it its observations.<o:p></o:p> 3. Where a determination under paragraph 2 has been made, the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may decide to suspend certain of the rights deriving from the application of th= is Treaty to the <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceT= ype w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType> in question, including the voting rights = of the representative of the government of that <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceN= ame w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:P= laceType></st1:place> in the Council. In doing so, the Council shall take into account the possib= le consequences of such a suspension on the rights and obligations of natural = and legal persons.<o:p></o:p> The obligations of the <st1:pl= ace w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceTyp= e w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in question under this Treaty shall in any case continue to be binding on t= hat State.<o:p></o:p> 4. The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may decide subsequently to vary or revoke measures taken under paragraph 3 in response to changes in the situation which led to their being imposed.<o:p></o:p> 5. For the purposes of this Ar= ticle, the Council shall act without taking into account the vote of the representative of the government of the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceNa= me w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:P= laceType></st1:place> in question. Abstentions by members present in person or represented shall = not prevent the adoption of decisions referred to in paragraph 2. A qualified majority shall be defined as the same proportion of the weighted votes of t= he members of the Council concerned as laid down in Article 205(2) of the Trea= ty establishing the European Community.<o:p></o:p> This paragraph shall also appl= y in the event of voting rights being suspended pursuant to paragraph 3.<o:p></o= :p> 6. For the purposes of paragra= phs 1 and 2, the European Parliament shall act by a two-thirds majority of the vo= tes cast, representing a majority of its Members.”<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 0cm 4.0pt'> Explanation: <o:p></o:p> The new Article implies that sanctions will be imposed on a <st1:place w:st=3D"on">= <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:P= laceType></st1:place> where there is the expectation of a violation of rights rather than an actu= al instance of this happening. Article 7 of TEU was introduced in <st1:City w:= st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Amsterdam</st1:place></st1:City> and amended in Nice. It has s= erious political consequences because a <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st= =3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> can simply be assumed to be guilty when a “serious risk of a serious breach” = is noted. The Lisbon Treaty gives a legally binding character to the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Therefore, the Charter will be used to identify whether= or not a <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceNa= me> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> shows an adequate “res= pect for human rights.” It also remains unclear what the precise meaning o= f a “serious breach” is. If the <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st= 1:place w:st=3D"on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> should “perceived= 221; to be in “serious breach” of such rights, it will face sanction= s. <o:p></o:p> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> Under = the Lisbon Treaty the possibility of “independent persons to submit withi= n a reasonable time limit a report on the situation in the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:Pla= ceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:P= laceType></st1:place> in question” has now been removed. This provision now openly prevents= the feedback to EU institutions on the reality of the situation within a <st1:P= laceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:Pl= aceType> – rather it implies it will exclusively rely on the perception of rig= hts within the <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">UK</st1:p= lace></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> As a r= esult of Paragraphs 5 and 6 of Article 7 TEU moving into Article 309 of the Treat= y on the Function of the European Union, this also led to “the voting arrangements applying to the European Parliament, the European Council and = the Council for the purposes of this Article.” <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> </div> </body> </html>

MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/D86798D7/article7.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" AMENDMENT TO: Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union= and the Treaty establishing the European Community (Brussels, 3 December 2007)<= /title> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name=3D"country-region"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=3DEN-US style=3D'tab-interval:36.0pt'> <div class=3DSection1> HUMAN RIGHTS:<o:p></o:p> <st1:place = w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on">LISB= ON</st1:City></st1:place> TREATY WILL IMPOSE SANCTIONS<o:= p></o:p> BASED ON EU PERCEPTION (NOT REALITY) OF <o:p></o:p> APPLICATION OF RIGHTS IN <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place = w:st=3D"on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p> [ARTICLE 7]<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <table class=3DMsoTableGrid border=3D0 cellspacing=3D0 cellpadding=3D0 style=3D'border-collapse:collapse;mso-yfti-tbllook:480;mso-padding-alt:0cm= 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'> <tr style=3D'mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes'> <td width=3D581 valign=3Dtop style=3D'width:436.0pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm= 5.4pt'> <o:p> </o:p></= p> AMENDMENT TO: Treaty of <st1:C= ity w:st=3D"on">Lisbon</st1:City> amending the Treaty on European Union and t= he Treaty establishing the European Community (<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:C= ity w:st=3D"on">Lisbon</st1:City></st1:place>, 13 December 2007)<o:p></o:p><= /span> </td> </tr> </table> = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = <o:p></o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'> Policy Area: <o:p></o:p> Treaty= on European Union, Title I, Common Provisions, Article 7<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'> Amendment:<o:p></o:p> Clause= 2, page 1, line 12, after ‘excluding’ insert –<o:p></o:p></s= pan> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> ‘= ;(i) Article 2, paragraph 7, amendments to Article 7 TEU relating to breach of principles; and<o:p></o:p> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> (ii)’. <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'> <st1:place w:st=3D"on"= ><st1:City w:st=3D"on">Lisb= on</st1:City></st1:place> Treaty Article:<o:p></o:p></spa= n> “Article 7 shall be amended as follows:<o:p= ></o:p> (a) throughout the Article, the word "assent" shall be replaced by "consent", the reference = to breach "of principles mentioned in Article 6(1)" shall be replace= d by a reference to breach "of the values referred to in Article 1a", = the words "of this Treaty" shall be replaced by "of the Treaties" and the word "Commission" shall be replaced by<o:p= ></o:p> "European Commission";<o:p></o:p></span= > (b) at the end of the first sentence of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1, the words "and address appropriate recommendations to that State" shall be deleted; at the end of the last sentence, the words "and, acting in accordance with the same procedure, may call on independent persons to submit within a reasonable time limit a report on the situation in the Member State in question" shall be repl= aced by "and may address recommendations to it, acting in accordance with t= he same procedure.";<o:p></o:p> (c) in paragraph 2, the words "The Council, meeting in the composition of the Heads of<o:p></o= :p> State or Government and acting by unanimity" shall be replaced by "The European<o:p></o:p> Council, acting by unanimity" and the words "the government of the <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceNam= e> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType> in question" shall be replaced by "the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:Pla= ceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in question";<o:p></o:p= > (d) paragraphs 5 and 6= shall be replaced by the following:<o:p></o:p> "5. The voting arrangements applying to the European Parliament, the European<o:p></o:p> Council and the Council for the purposes of this Article are laid down in Article 309 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union."<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt'> Consolidated Treaty Article(s):<= o:p></o:p> “Article 7 <o:p></o:p></= span> 1. On a reasoned proposal by o= ne third of the Member States, by the European Parliament or by the Commission, the Council, acting by a majority of four fifths of its members after obtai= ning the assent of the European Parliament, may determine that there is a clear = risk of a serious breach by a Member State of principles mentioned in Article 6(= 1), and address appropriate recommendations to that State. Before making such a determination, the Council shall hear the <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member= </st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType> in question and, acting in accordance with the same procedure, may call on independent persons to subm= it within a reasonable time limit a report on the situation in the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceTyp= e w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in question.<o:p></o:p> The Council shall regularly ve= rify that the grounds on which such a determination was made continue to apply.&= #8221;<o:p></o:p> 2. The Council, meeting in the composition of the Heads of State or Government and acting by unanimity on a proposal by one third of the Member States or by the Commission and after o= btaining the assent of the European Parliament, may determine the existence of a ser= ious and persistent breach by a Member State of principles mentioned in Article 6(1), after inviting the government of the Member State in question to subm= it its observations.<o:p></o:p> 3. Where a determination under paragraph 2 has been made, the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may decide to suspend certain of the rights deriving from the application of th= is Treaty to the <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceT= ype w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType> in question, including the voting rights = of the representative of the government of that <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceN= ame w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:P= laceType></st1:place> in the Council. In doing so, the Council shall take into account the possib= le consequences of such a suspension on the rights and obligations of natural = and legal persons.<o:p></o:p> The obligations of the <st1:pl= ace w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceTyp= e w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in question under this Treaty shall in any case continue to be binding on t= hat State.<o:p></o:p> 4. The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may decide subsequently to vary or revoke measures taken under paragraph 3 in response to changes in the situation which led to their being imposed.<o:p></o:p> 5. For the purposes of this Ar= ticle, the Council shall act without taking into account the vote of the representative of the government of the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceNa= me w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:P= laceType></st1:place> in question. Abstentions by members present in person or represented shall = not prevent the adoption of decisions referred to in paragraph 2. A qualified majority shall be defined as the same proportion of the weighted votes of t= he members of the Council concerned as laid down in Article 205(2) of the Trea= ty establishing the European Community.<o:p></o:p> This paragraph shall also appl= y in the event of voting rights being suspended pursuant to paragraph 3.<o:p></o= :p> 6. For the purposes of paragra= phs 1 and 2, the European Parliament shall act by a two-thirds majority of the vo= tes cast, representing a majority of its Members.”<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:1.0pt 4.0pt 0cm 4.0pt'> Explanation: <o:p></o:p> The new Article implies that sanctions will be imposed on a <st1:place w:st=3D"on">= <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:P= laceType></st1:place> where there is the expectation of a violation of rights rather than an actu= al instance of this happening. Article 7 of TEU was introduced in <st1:City w:= st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Amsterdam</st1:place></st1:City> and amended in Nice. It has s= erious political consequences because a <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st= =3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> can simply be assumed to be guilty when a “serious risk of a serious breach” = is noted. The Lisbon Treaty gives a legally binding character to the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Therefore, the Charter will be used to identify whether= or not a <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceNa= me> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> shows an adequate “res= pect for human rights.” It also remains unclear what the precise meaning o= f a “serious breach” is. If the <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st= 1:place w:st=3D"on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> should “perceived= 221; to be in “serious breach” of such rights, it will face sanction= s. <o:p></o:p> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> Under = the Lisbon Treaty the possibility of “independent persons to submit withi= n a reasonable time limit a report on the situation in the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:Pla= ceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:P= laceType></st1:place> in question” has now been removed. This provision now openly prevents= the feedback to EU institutions on the reality of the situation within a <st1:P= laceName w:st=3D"on">Member</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">State</st1:Pl= aceType> – rather it implies it will exclusively rely on the perception of rig= hts within the <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">UK</st1:p= lace></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> As a r= esult of Paragraphs 5 and 6 of Article 7 TEU moving into Article 309 of the Treat= y on the Function of the European Union, this also led to “the voting arrangements applying to the European Parliament, the European Council and = the Council for the purposes of this Article.” <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p>&= nbsp;</o:p> </div> </body> </html>