European Union (Amendment) Bill

We will test the democratic mandate at the next general election and see what the result is. The right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks claims that the new high representative"““will in time not merely supplement Members States' voices in foreign affairs, but replace them””." That is the claim even though the European Scrutiny Committee has said that"““the largely intergovernmental nature of the CFSP and ESDP will be maintained, with no significant departures from the arrangements which currently apply””." The hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) claims that"““European integration threaten to tear the....NATO alliance apart””," but that runs directly against what the US State Department and NATO's Secretary-General have said about the treaty. The NATO Secretary-General said that"““no one today would still seriously assert that NATO and the EU are rivals whose aim is to drive each other out of business””." Clearly, he has not met the hon. Member for Woodspring. The hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Alan Duncan) speaks on energy for the Conservative party. This is what he said:"““A gas dispute in Bavaria could ultimately lead to gas rationing in Birmingham.””"