DUP MEP Jim Allister QC has welcomed the comments of a new EU Commissioner that it is not within the remit of the Commission to campaign for the new European Constitution.

Jim Allister said, “The Constitutional Affairs Committee on which I sit is dominated by Europhiles, eager to foist the new Constitution upon member states.  I have been constantly arguing that Europe must not involve itself in the national referendums and in particular must not bankroll the Yes campaigns.

In pursuit of their agenda to promote the Constitution the majority on the Committee posed a written question to the incoming Commissioner, Ms Wallstrom, asking her what she was going to do "to make sure" the Constitution was approved.   I welcome the fact that in her answer Ms Wallstrom has said, "To be blunt, it does not fall in the remit of the Commission to start a campaign in favour of the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty; there would be neither a legal basis nor a budget for such an action."

I greatly welcome this stance and will seek to hold the Commission to this important declaration.

I also welcome the fact that the prospective Commissioner has rebuffed the Committee in seeking to have the Commission implement aspects of the Constitution before ratification.  This was a preposterous suggestion which showed utter contempt for the democratic process.  Ms Wallstrom has declared, "From a legal point of view, it is impossible to apply today, even in an informal way, most of the substantial innovations of the Constitutional Treaty....I do not think the Commission should generally apply in advance provisions in the Constitutional Treaty."

Again I welcome this robust put-down for the Europhile majority on the Committee.  I look forward to an upcoming hearing with Ms Wallstrom when I will further explore these issues”.