Lithuania quick to ratify EU charter (groan alert)

Reuters, AP ^ | 11-12-04

[inquest]

VILNIUS, Lithuania - Lawmakers ratified the newly signed European Union Constitution on Thursday, making Lithuania, a new member, the first country in the 25-member bloc to approve the historic document.

Eighty-four members of the 141-seat Seimas, or Parliament, voted to ratify the document, while four voted against it and three abstained. Fifty lawmakers were not present. Under Lithuanian law, it takes 57 votes to approve an international treaty.

Members of the bloc signed the constitution Oct. 29 in Rome, and the charter is expected to take effect in 2007.

The document must be ratified by the legislatures of all EU states in 2005 and 2006. It is a tricky prospect, given that at least nine countries - Denmark, Spain, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Britain - plan to put the constitution to a referendum.

A single "no" would stop the EU constitution in its tracks.

The EU constitution has a long charter of fundamental rights and foresees simpler voting rules to end decision gridlock in a club that grew to 25 members this year and plans to absorb a half-dozen more in the years ahead.

It includes new powers for the European Parliament and ends national vetoes in 45 new policy areas - including judicial and police cooperation, education and economic policy, but not in foreign and defense policy, social security, taxation or cultural matters.

The constitution sparked little dissent in Lithuania, even though in recent national elections the opposition Labor Party, seen as more pro-Moscow than pro-Europe, came close to winning power.

But a new coalition government, which includes Labor, has made it clear that strong EU ties remain its top priority.

Some of the lawmakers who voted against ratification said they worried about Lithuania's loss of independence....

[inquest]

They break free from one socialist empire and willingly jump into another.

[GSlob]

Do not blame them. With their history, they are desperate to anchor in the West, even if that West is growing more socialist by the day. BTW, socialism is a Western heresy.

[LibertarianInExile]

The difference is that, now, the EU is tied to them and more bound to help them if Russia becomes the bear in the woods.

At least nominally, anyway. I think the Lithuanians would have voted in Napoleon if it would help them avoid another Russian takeover.

[datura]

What's the difference between the EU and the old USSR? This "constitution" is a laundry list of things that the government allows the people to do, not vice versa. Whenever government gives the people rights, instead of the people giving the government limits, you're going to have real problems.

[endthematrix]

"What's the difference between the EU and the old USSR?"

C'mon now. Think real hard.

[BroncosFan]

Exactly. The "single 'no'" will come. The the Euro-crats will rewrite it, slightly, and push it through anyway.

[tjwmason]

Exactly. The "single 'no'" will come. The the Euro-crats will rewrite it, slightly, and push it through anyway.

It depends on who gives the single 'no'. If it's a smaller country they can get pushed aside (especially a new member like Lithuania), but when Britain gives a resounding 'NO DAMN WAY' in our referendum then things become more complicated.

My hope is that they push us into some form of 'associate membership' which allows us to ignore them, then after we realise that it hasn't hurt us at all, indeed that this has aided us, we can leave entirely.

[inquest]

Ask that question in another ten years.

[SunkenCiv]

search FR for LIthuania topics.

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