Bill Cash @ ConservativeHome: "Today is the twentieth anniversary of Britain signing up to the Maastricht Treaty. I urged John Major to veto Maastricht and he did not. I insisted on a referendum at the very least and he would not give one. I warned against economic and monetary union and the single currency as a political project demanding a veto from the then-Ministers. Now they watch the Eurozone crisis unfold as a result of a failed coercive, federal system which was a consequence of their failure to veto those unworkable proposals in line with Britain’s national interests and wider Europe. There has been a continuing stream of treaties ever since Maastricht. Successive administrations have allowed the European juggernaut to continue." Please read the post here.

The Daily Telegraph reports: “A senior immigration judge said yesterday that Qatada could be released despite even his own defence team suggesting that he posed a “grave risk” to Britain’s national security.”

Bill Cash was quoted saying “This reinforces the need to reform the Human Rights Act. This was a Conservative manifesto commitment at the last election. The Human Rights Act should be repealed.”

Following the outcome of the informal meeting of the European Council in Brussels on Monday 30 January, the European Foundation updated his previous report - No backsliding at EU summit.

 As expected, on 30 January, the EU leaders agreed on the final wording of the inter-governmental treaty on stability and convergence in the Economic and Monetary Union. Hence, the treaty will be formally signed at the next European Council meeting in March, so each signatory country can ratify it by the end of 2012. According to a Communication by euro area Member States, issued on 30 January “This represents a major step forward towards closer and irrevocable fiscal and economic integration and stronger governance in the euro area.” It also says, “It will significantly bolster the outlook for fiscal sustainability and euro area sovereign debt and enhance growth.” Moreover, Article 1 of the draft treaty states, “By this Treaty, the Contracting Parties agree, as Member States of the European Union, to strengthen the economic pillar of the Economic and Monetary Union by adopting a set of rules intended to foster budgetary discipline through a fiscal compact, to strengthen the coordination of economic policies and to improve the governance of the euro area, thereby supporting the achievement of the European Union's objectives for sustainable growth, employment, competitiveness and social cohesion.” However, this treaty will do nothing to resolve the present debt crisis, which, in fact, is getting worse. Greece is not far from default, Portugal's sovereign debt situation is escalating, and a huge recession is on the cards for Europe. But the problem is not just the financial markets, but also social unrest. Citizens have been demonstrating against austerity measures and general strikes have been taking place all over Europe.  

It is now crystal clear that the Directive of 19 November 2008 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community will have damaging impact on the aviation industry. On the other hand, the aviation industry is likely to pass their costs on to the consumer – therefore airline fares are set to rise.

In a letter to The Telegraph, more than a hundred Tory MPs called on the Prime Minister to "opt out" of 130 EU laws over the next two years:

The European Parliament adopted yesterday a report, entitled The European Dimension in Sport. According to the European Parliament “the European flag should be flown at major international sports events held on the EU territory.” The MEPs have also suggested that the European flag should be displayed on the clothing of athletes from Member States, flanking the national flags.

The Prime Minister made a statement, yesterday, at the House of Commons, on last Monday’s Informal European Council. Bill Cash made the following intervention:

In the light of the European Council which the Prime Minister will attend today, the European Foundation has today issued a 72-point report on the clear and present dangers posed by the post-veto EU summit.

There are serious obstacles that need to be addressed in relation to the crisis in the Eurozone, the proposed draft treaty and the impending economic, political and constitutional dangers it poses to the United Kingdom.

Crucially, France and Germany refuse to accept the failure of the Eurozone. It is time for David Cameron to redefine the terms of our relationship with the Eurozone and the wider EU. The draft treaty under consideration rewards the something for nothing culture.

The draft treaty will simply lead to even more rules for Eurozone countries which then go on to break those rules and seek even more money from EU, ECB and IMF bailout funds. The situation is no longer affordable.

As for the draft treaty, it is vital that the EU institutions are not used along with their buildings and staff, as the UK has explicitly vetoed these arrangements. They have no right to develop a role in any agreement outside the EU treaties, as this treaty attempts to do.

There is no legal basis to formally institutionalise the Euro summits, so where would the money to be allocated to eurozone summits come from?

It is not legal for the European Commission or the ECJ to attempt to enforce the draft Treaty on stability, coordination and governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, because it is simply not within their mandate.

It is not legal that a group of Member States without unanimous approval of the other member states to confer any new powers to the EU institutions outside the EU legal framework.

In light of the Prime Minister’s veto, David Cameron must now insist on a referendum. Several countries, including Denmark, Ireland, Czech Republic, Romania and Finland have indicated that, under certain circumstances, they may have to hold referendums either to change their constitutions or to simply accept what is on the table.

Please click here to read The European Foundation’s Report: No backsliding at EU summit

Download Backsliding PDF

The House of Commons held a debate, yesterday, ahead of the European Council meeting on 30 January. During the debate Bill Cash made the following speech and interventions:

The House of Commons debated, yesterday, the European Commission Communication, Towards an EU Criminal Policy. During the debate Bill Cash made the following interventions: