House of Commons Papers : Fourteenth Report of Session 2004-05

The EU Constitutional Treaty was signed in Rome in October 2004, and it now requires ratification by all 25 Member States in order to come into force. The Committees report examines a range of specific issues covered by, or connected with, the Treaty, including the EUs values and objectives; the primacy of EU law over national law; legislative meetings of the Council of Ministers in public; the roles of the new European Council Presidency and Foreign Minister; enhanced co-operation; the Charter of Fundamental Rights; the red lines in the UK Governments negotiating position; the effectiveness of the emergency brakes procedure; criminal justice provisions; practical and political consequences if the Treaty is not ratified.