EU nay-sayers present jaded and misleading case

MUCH has changed in Europe since the Nice Treaty but not, it seems, the jaded and misleading arguments of the EU nay-sayers like James A Gleeson (Letters, September 11).

According to him, agreeing to the new reform treaty would make us “a nation of suckers” signing away our democratic franchise.

How he arrives at this conclusion, however, is not so clear.

All legislative decisions at EU level are either taken by responsible ministers from the member states voting together or by a joint decision of these ministers (who are by default elected representatives in Ireland’s case) and the European Parliament; certainly not by “the EU’s most powerful figure, President José Manuel Barrosa”, as Mr Gleeson describes him.

As president of the European Commission, Mr Barroso has no legislative decision-making powers.

In terms of legislative decision-making, the reform treaty, if ratified, will transfer some extra powers to the directly elected European Parliament, ie, more democracy for EU legislation-making, not less.

As regards the imposition of “new laws” on Ireland, faced with the growing challenges of immigration, energy security and terrorism, greater facilitation of the EU’s ability to act in areas like justice and energy policy can only be welcome.

Laws that the EU have previously “imposed” on Ireland have enabled us to move out of the dark ages in terms of social equality, live in a much cleaner and safer environment, and fly for one cent throughout Europe, among many other benefits. Is that the loss of freedom to which Mr Gleeson is referring?

Richard More O’Ferrall

Gordon Ave

Foxrock

Dublin 18