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novembro 02, 2004
Signing of the European constitution
Fonte: The Times
Signing of the European constitution
From Mr David Sullivan
Sir, Mr Christopher Patten and his chums (letter, October 29) extol the virtues of the EU constitution as giving “a bigger role to the Parliament and people of this country” and as “a landmark success for Britain”, which “will protect and enhance our vital national interests and enable us to work more effectively with our partners to change Europe for the better”. Yet it was not so long ago that this Government told us that the constitution was little more than a “tidying-up exercise” which did not merit a referendum.
The deceit of all our political parties over the past 30 years is now laid bare. Can the political classes really be surprised at the cynicism and hostility of the British electorate towards all things European? Yours faithfully,
DAVID SULLIVAN,
Willowmead, Cornish Hall End,
Finchingfield, Essex CM7 4HL.
d.sullivan@kennedys-law.com
October 29.
From Mr Tim Cooper
Sir, The controversy surrounding the aborted appointment of the new European commission this week has overshadowed the signing of the European constitution today.
With two years in which to ratify the treaty and due public scrutiny in the form of several referendums, Europeans will have ample time to take an informed view on its relevance and desirability. It is now, however, when we would do well to look closer to home and consider the constitutional lacuna within our own society.
The British constitution is an elusive concept, with no definitive record or set of principles articulated in any one specific document. The absence of such a fixed compass point means that not only is constitutional law a dark art of patchy precedent, but also the relationship between the individual citizen and the State is inevitably weaker. As can be seen in the United States, a written constitution can help to increase the sense of collective responsibility and ownership that citizens have towards their State in a way that is lacking here.
If we are to throw off the shackles of self-doubt that accompanied the passing of the British Empire and embrace the European ideal with confidence, we need first to set out a modern and inclusive constitution that will guide us into the future with unity and certainty of purpose. It is about time that the “silent constitution”, as the judge Sir Stephen Sedley termed it, found its voice.
Publicado por esta às novembro 2, 2004 01:13 PM