MEPs protest at absence of treaty referendums

Irish MEP Kathy Sinnott (centre foreground) was among members of the European Parliament who held signs to protest against the upcoming signing of the Lisbon Treaty, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, yesterday.
Photograph: Vincent Kessler

Strasbourg: A group of jeering MEPs disrupted a ceremony marking the signing of the EU charter of fundamental rights yesterday, using the opportunity to call for more referendums on the new EU reform treaty.

The MEPs, including representatives from Britain, France, Poland and Ireland, heckled Portuguese prime minister José Socrates as he delivered a speech before signing the charter on behalf of EU member states.

Unfurling banners emblazoned with the word "referendum", the MEPs, most of whom wore black T-shirts, angrily demanded a public vote on the reform treaty which is due to be signed in Lisbon today.

Independent Irish MEP Kathy Sinnott was among the protesters, but later said she did not join the heckling.

"Mine was a silent demonstration to point out that here we have all this talk about rights, yet 26 countries are being denied the right to hold a referendum on the treaty," she added.

The rights charter will be attached to the Lisbon Treaty and, if ratified, will be legally binding for all EU members except Britain and Poland, both of which obtained opt-outs.

So far, Ireland is the only country that will hold a referendum on the treaty. The other member states will ratify it through their parliaments.

"Referendum, we want a referendum. The people of Europe deserve to decide for themselves," Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, yelled from his seat.

Struggling to be heard above the din, Mr Socrates pressed on with his speech.

"Despite all the shouting, today is a fundamental day in European history," he said. "This charter is a commitment to European values."

European Parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering attempted to restore calm, asking the hecklers to leave the chamber.

His request however was ignored and the protesters intensified their chanting as Mr Socrates, Mr Pottering and European Commission president José Manuel Barroso signed the charter.

A minor scuffle ensued as parliament officials attempted to wrestle placards and banners from the MEPs.

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times