Proinsias De Rossa explains why he is voting Yes

Posted on June 10, 2008 at 11:14 AM

In the video Proinsias De Rossa MEP explains why he is voting yes. He says: "The Lisbon Reform Treaty provides a legally binding Charter of Fundamental Rights which places new obligations on the European Union to resepct the rights of European citizens.

"It is important that people are not misled by believing that a negative vote means that the EU is going to sit down and renegotiate a better treaty for working people in Ireland or for those who need a social Europe.

"The reality is the Lisbon Treaty was negotiated at a time when the Social Democrats were in the majority in the EU. We had 11 out of 15 members States; now we have the situation where 17 of the member States are centre-right out of 27 so the balance is completely changed.

"It is far more likely we will lose things like the Charter of Fundamental Rights and other important advances if we vote no."

Tagged with Foreign & European Affairs • Lisbonreformtreaty proinsiasderossa