Allister urges UK to veto EU standardisation of criminal law
18 September 2006
"This will be a crucial week in terms of the extent to which the UK Government is prepared to surrender further vital powers to the EU. On Friday (22/9) the Home Secretary, John Reid, will meet with his fellow Justice & Home Affairs Ministers to decide on Commission proposals to abolish the veto on the criminal justice powers currently under national control.
If the veto is surrendered, then it is done irretievably and the EU will gain control over shaping our criminal law and setting criminal penalties. The aim of the Commission is to standardise the legal systems of Member States, a development which would threaten Habeas Corpus, trial by jury and other distinctly British freedoms.
I am therefore joining with other British MEPs and MPs in signing a letter to John Reid demanding that he exercises the UK's veto on these proposals. Such proposals within the Council of Ministers can only pass to majority voting if all Member States agree. Thus the UK has a veto and should resolutely exercise it."
