EU justice opt out is an illusion of sovereignty

5.21.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 16th May 2007

Commenting on reports that the UK may be offered an opt-out from EU policing and justice policies in the new EU constitution so as to justify the avoidance of a referendum, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokeswoman Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP said:

"The retention of the national veto for EU law enforcement measures offers Britain no more than an illusion of sovereignty. While the Brussels machine is deadlocked by the search for 27-country unanimity, the terrorists and criminals are free to bomb and bribe their way across Europe.

"No British government has ever had the guts to tell the British people that sovereignty means real, shared power to control events rather than the hollow prize of unsplendid isolation."

ENDS