European Union (Amendment) Bill

moved Amendment No. 1: 1: After Clause 6, insert the following new Clause— ““Consequences of non-ratification by other Member States For the avoidance of doubt, until the Treaty of Lisbon has been ratified by all Member States of the European Union, Her Majesty’s Government shall continue to act in accordance with the provisions of the existing Treaties and within the institutional arrangements established by those Treaties.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, it was apparent in the debate on the Statement that the Government would oppose the Motion. It was not apparent that it would be opposed by such a great margin, but it was opposed to assert ratification of the reform treaty on Third Reading. The reform treaty stalled on the Irish referendum. The noble and learned Lord, Lord Howe of Aberavon, said that the best approach was to keep the train on the road pending renegotiation, the conduct of which negotiation continues and acknowledges continued membership of the EU. Such is the purpose of this amendment.