text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Lisbon Treaty - Prevent competition rules from becoming an exclusive policy area of the European Union - rejected
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The majority No voters rejected an amendment[1] to the [http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/europeanunionamendment.html European Union (Amendment) Bill]. This would have prevented competition rules from becoming an exclusive policy area of the European Union as proposed by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_lisbon Treaty of Lisbon]. In particular, the Aye-voters sought to allow "the UK to retain the freedom to complement the internal market where deemed necessary."[2]
  
  The amendment can be seen as an attempt to limit Britain's further integration with the European Union.
  
  The European Union (Amendment) Bill implements the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Lisbon Lisbon Treaty] into UK law. The main aims of the Lisbon Treaty were to[3]:
  
  * Streamline EU institutions
  * Establish a permanent President of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Council European Council] (as of 16 March 2010 held by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Van_Rompuy Herman Van Rompuy])
  * Establish the post of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Representative_of_the_Union_for_Foreign_Affairs_and_Security_Policy High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy] (as of 16 March 2010 held by Catherine Ashton)
  * Give new powers to the EU over justice and home affairs
  * Remove the national veto in some areas such as energy security and emergency aid 
  
  ----
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-02-06c.1038.5 Mark Francois MP], House of Commons, 6 February 2008
  * [2] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-02-06c.1040.0 Mark Francois MP], House of Commons, 6 February 2008
  * [3] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6901353.stm BBC News Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty], 5 February 2010
  
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  