17 December 2007
Gordon Brown has identified economic reform, climate change and security in Kosovo, Iran and Burma as the key challenges for the European Union.
Speaking to MPs in Parliament, the Prime Minister said that the EU was now moving to a "new agenda" in order to "meet the challenges of the global era". Institutional reform as addressed in the EU Treaty, signed last week, would not be revisited "in the forseeable future", he added.
On Kosovo, Mr Brown said that EU leaders were agreed that the status quo was "unsustainable" and settlement around a "stable, democratic, multi-ethnic" Kosovo was necessary. At the same time the EU remains committed to the full integration of Serbia into the EU, he said.
With insufficient progress made in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme, the Prime Minister confirmed that the EU will seek a new UN resolution with tougher sanctions against Tehran. "Restrictive measures" may also be amended and reinforced against Burma if basic political freedoms are not implemented, he said.
On climate change, the PM said that the EU would seek an "ambitious" post-2012 agreement following the successful conclusion of the Bali summit on Saturday. The European Union will "step up" funding to help developing nations establish low carbon economies.
The Prime Minister used the statement to introduce the EU Amendment Bill, the legislative paper for the EU Amending Treaty signed in Lisbon last week. Mr Brown said that the proposals include arrangements to prevent any government accepting an increase in the EU’s role without the express permission of Parliament.
The PM said:
"With the publication of the Bill that legislates for the amendments to the European Communities Act, Parliament will now have the opportunity to debate this amending treaty in detail and decide whether to implement it. We will ensure sufficient time for debate on the floor of the House so that the Bill is examined in the fullest of detail and all points of view can be heard. This will give the House the full opportunity to consider this treaty, and the deal secured for the UK, before ratification.
"In addition, I can tell the House that we have built into the legislation further safeguards to ensure proper Parliamentary oversight and accountability."
- PM hails EU Treaty
- Gordon Brown signs EU Treaty
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Image copyright: Reuters
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