THE GOVERNMENT'S White Paper on the Lisbon Treaty provides an outline of the content of the treaty and details how it was negotiated, including the broad position taken by the Government during the negotiations.
The 104-page document, launched yesterday by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, will make up one element of the Government's public information drive in the run-up to the forthcoming referendum on the treaty.
"The White Paper situates the reform treaty in context, describing how it evolved during almost six years of negotiations. It explains the treaty's structure, which involves amendments to the existing EU treaties. It also explains some of the terms commonly used in relation to the European Union. The intention is to make the reform treaty as accessible as possible to the ordinary citizen," said Mr Ahern at the launch.
In the paper's introduction, the Government notes that it is particularly pleased with the manner in which the interests of all member states, including smaller countries, are protected by the institutional balance agreed in the treaty. It adds that it is confident that the retention of unanimity in relation to decision-making in the areas of defence and taxation ensures that "Ireland's interests will continue to be safeguarded" following ratification.
In the chapter outlining the role of national parliaments and the European Parliament, the Government notes that the Lisbon Treaty proposes to give national assemblies a direct input into EU legislation. It also welcomes the so-called "co-decision procedure", which extends the number of areas in which the European Parliament will be co-legislator with the Council.
Referring to its impact on the EU's institutions, the Government says the most significant changes are "probably the creation of the posts of president of the European Council and of high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy, as well as the change to a double-majority voting system in the council".
It says its overriding concern throughout the negotiations was to guarantee that the overall institutional balances, in particular the interests of smaller member states, were protected. It attached particular importance to the "maintenance of absolute equality in regard to the rotation of posts in the commission". This goal, it says, was accomplished.
The Government says it is satisfied "Ireland's capacity to safeguard its interests will not be materially affected" by the move to a double-majority arrangement due to come into effect in 2014, whereby a proposal would require the support both of a majority of member states and of a substantial majority of the EU's population. The Government recognises "the advantages of the new system in terms of clarity and the overall efficiency of decision-making". The paper notes decisions cannot be taken under the treaty unless they have "genuine support" from the majority of member states.
In the chapter detailing changes to decision-making processes under the treaty, the Government says it favoured the extension of qualified majority voting (QMV) and co-decision as "important for the more effective" functioning of the EU. At the same time, it notes, it insisted on retaining unanimous voting in a number of key areas such as defence and taxation.
On the so-called "general passerelle" the White Paper outlines how this procedure will enable the European Council to decide to change from unanimity to QMV, noting this may not apply to defence-related decisions. "Moreover, any proposal to use the "general passerelle" must be notified to all national parliaments at least six months in advance. Any national parliament can veto such a move," it says.
On justice and security arrangements contained in the treaty, the Government says it is satisfied Ireland's interests will be met by opting into the measures on a case-by-case basis.
Copies of the White Paper will be distributed to public libraries and will also be available from the Department of Foreign Affairs, and can be viewed on the Government's Lisbon Treaty website, www.reformtreaty.ie