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![]() It is sometimes said by EU supporters that EU sceptics should vote for Lisbon because it is the first EU treaty to include a specific provision on withdrawal. This is a highly disingenuous. International treaties (like those on European Union) may be divided into those (like Lisbon) which include provisions on a party withdrawing and those (like Rome through Nice) which have no such provision. But the lack of such a provision does not mean that withdrawal is impossible. Article 56(1) of the Vienna Convention on the Law on Treaties states: Quote:
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The claims of EU supporters that EU-skeptics should vote for Lisbon on the grounds that they are locked into the EU now without Lisbon is false. It is a rather obvious ruse and a dangerous one. There is the question of what would happen should a subsequent EU treaty (or the Lisbon self-amending 'ordinary revision procedure') be used to change Article 50 TEU in a way that would make it harder (or perhaps impossible) for a state to leave? Then a state really might find that it was locked in. ------------ Article 50 TEU 1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements. 2. A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention. In the light of the guidelines provided by the European Council, the Union shall negotiate and conclude an agreement with that State, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union. That agreement shall be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. It shall be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament. 3. The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period. 4. For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 3, the member of the European Council or of the Council representing the withdrawing Member State shall not participate in the discussions of the European Council or Council or in decisions concerning it. A qualified majority shall be defined in accordance with Article 238(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. 5. If a State which has withdrawn from the Union asks to rejoin, its request shall be subject to the procedure referred to in Article 49. __________________ Noun 1. yes-man - a person of unquestioning obedience; person who accepts the leadership of another; someone who is easily taken advantage of Last edited by Freeborn John; 4 Weeks Ago at 04:21 PM. |