European Union (Amendment) Bill

I thank the noble Baroness for her response to the debate, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Slynn, and the noble Lords, Lord Lester and Lord Thomas. We all learnt a great deal from their interpretation of EU law. It has been a very interesting and revealing debate. As I said earlier, I understand the supremacy of EU law in general, although the way it was described was very helpful. My amendment deals in particular with the changes introduced by this treaty—bringing freedom, security and justice for the first time under the jurisdiction of the court and introducing the Charter of Fundamental Rights. I sought to draw attention in particular to whether those innovations in this treaty brought the supremacy of European law to cover justice and criminal law and policing in the UK. I think the answer was a resounding ““Yes, it does””. That is a very interesting answer which will bear much thought. As my noble friend Lord Hunt suggested, I and others will want to take this away and consider the best way of proceeding with this argument. Given the lateness of the hour for dinner, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 116 to 119 not moved.]