ANDREW DUFF WELCOMES 'BIRTH OF PARLIAMENTARY EUROPE'

11.58.12am GMT Tue 1st Dec 2009

Today the European Union is turning an important page in its history. This is the birth of a truly parliamentary Europe. Not only does the European Parliament itself gain very significant legislative, budgetary and scrutiny powers, but the Council of Ministers gets to behave like a second chamber of the EU legislature. National parliaments, too, have a new and more important role. All this is to the lasting benefit of the citizen. The new system is more transparent and efficient than the old. The EU will be much stronger on the world stage, and more effective at home.

Lisbon comes into force 11 months late, and a full 8 years after the Laeken Declaration which triggered the process of constitutional renewal of the European Union. The process has been protracted and controversial. Today is a day for celebration.

Andrew Duff MEP, President of LDEG

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