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  Lisbon Treaty - Exclude the European Court of Justice's regulations on police and justice matters - 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] which aimed to limit the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_court_of_justice European Court of Justice] (ECJ) from increasing its powers over police and justice matters. This Bill implements the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Lisbon Lisbon Treaty] into UK law.
  
  In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maastricht_Treaty Maastricht Treaty] it was set out that the ECJ could not decide on affairs relating to criminal justice. However, in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Lisbon Lisbon Treaty] this changed so that the ECJ could regulate on these matters but member states would have to "opt into" these arrangements.
  
  Mark Francois MP explains his reason for tabling the amendment[2]:
  
  :'Over time we would see current and future EU measures subject to interpretation by the European Court of Justice in this area [criminal justice]. We believe that it would not be long before important parts of our criminal law were potentially superseded by a body of European law.'
  
  Jim Murphy MP argues against the amendment as follows[3]:
  
  :'Justice and home affairs in general and police and judicial co-operation on criminal matters in particular are subjects of great sensitivity. The UK has therefore negotiated a comprehensive opt-out arrangement, under which we have a choice, as the UK Government. First, we can choose whether to opt into new justice and home affairs proposals. Secondly, we can choose whether to accept European Court of Justice jurisdiction over existing third pillar measures at the end of the transitional period.'
  
  The main aims of the Lisbon Treaty were to[4]:
  
  * 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 
  
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  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-01-29c.239.5 Mark Francois MP], House of Commons, 29 January 2008
  * [2] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-01-29c.241.0 Mark Francois MP], House of Commons, 29 January 2008
  * [3] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2008-01-29c.271.0 Jim Murphy MP], House of Commons, 29 January 2008
  * [4] [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)
  