South East MEP Sharon Bowles welcomes Lisbon Treaty

5.52.22pm GMT Wed 4th Nov 2009

Local Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles, Chair of the European Parliament's powerful Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, has welcomed the news that the Lisbon Treaty has been ratified.

Sharon Bowles said: "The Lisbon Treaty will make the EU more democratic and more effective by modernising its structures and rules. The Treaty sets targets for combating climate change and global warming, and it will make the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union legally binding, enshrining the rights of millions of EU citizens."

The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty has been a slow process. However, with Czech President Václav Klaus, signing the Treaty this week, the road to EU reform is now clear.

The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty now also places David Cameron and the Conservatives in a difficult position. Having long opposed the Treaty, the Conservative Party had promised a referendum - but now have no way of keeping that commitment.

Sharon Bowles said: "The Conservatives like to talk tough on Europe, but it is wrong to make promises they cannot keep, especially on an issue as important as this. Instead of aligning themselves with far-right fringe groups in the European Parliament, the Tories should look to act on Britain's best interests by working more closely with our European neighbours.

"Once again the Conservatives are putting party before country and saying how they will stall things such as the Croatian accession in order to get their way. To parade this for party purposes at a time when we are embarking on a slew of legislation of high importance to the City and the UK is just shooting us in the foot. Again."

The Lisbon Treaty comes in to effect across the EU on 1st December 2009.

ENDS