A plan to englarge the size and power of the EU has been exposed, after a draft plan to tweak the Lisbon treaty was leaked.
The 116-page document included a plan to expand Brussels’ control over EU countries, proving many of the UK’s Brexit voting community right.
Meanwhile, EU chiefs are eyeing up geographical expansion of the bloc – in the direction of Russia.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, told Politico that the Ukraine and the Western Balkans need to gain EU member status “quickly”.
EU chiefs are eyeing up geographical expansion of the bloc – in the direction of Russia.
PA
Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers in Spain, he said: “The Spanish presidency is proposing … to hold a ministerial meeting together with the Western Balkans ministers.
“We will do it at the end of next month.”
He added: “The issue of enlargement has been floating over our discussions.
“Ukraine has to become a member of the European Union. The Western Balkans also. Quickly.”
The rule-by-the-majority plan, unveiled in a document seen by Politico, would apply in several areas, including defense, taxation and foreign policy.
The changes would be put in place through a tweak of the Lisbon Treaty. However, some insiders have slapped down the idea.
A senior EU diplomat told Playbook: “It’s a provocation. In Council there is no majority for treaty change.”
They added: “The Council’s legal service has been advising us for months already that the Lisbon Treaty is ‘enlargement proof’.”
The document, seen by Politico, includes handing total control over environmental and climate matters to the EU central body.
It has been signed by Guy Verhofstadt and five other european lawmakers and is expected to be unveiled later this month.
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It has been signed by Guy Verhofstadt and five other european lawmakers and is expected to be unveiled later this month.
PA
Ahead of the Brexit referendum, there were growing concerns over what was seen as a growing EU “dictatorship”, with the bloc imposing its laws on the UK.
But the newest draft signals an even bigger shift towards centralised power, giving the EU powers to bypass individual countries if they object to legislation.
