The Lisbon Treaty does a great deal to empower small states like ours by giving more power to the Dáil (Protocol 2, Articles 4 - 7), to our MEPs (Article 314) and through changes to voting entitlements which stop larger states groups together to block important legislation (Article 16.4 TEU). Yet the new Treaty also changes the EU’s relationship with ordinary Irish people. Many people live in Europe, and under Lisbon each and every one of them is given a greater voice in the way that the Union is run. The Lisbon Treaty empowers individuals. Many provisions in the Lisbon Treaty represent a natural evolution, development and improvement on previous treaties, yet there are two very important new areas where Irish Citizens are given extra power and franchise within the Union. These areas are the new Citizens’ Initiative and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The Citizens’ Initiative is created under Article 11 TEU. Under this proposal, when one million European citizens sign a petition for a particular proposal, the commission must consider it. This means that the EU will act in those areas that its citizens feel are most important. This initiative is a huge step in bringing the Union closer to Irish people. By giving new powers to citizens’ groups, Trade Unions and NGOs like Amnesty to suggest new legislation; good ideas will no longer have to wait for the action of politicians in order to be introduced.

For a more in- depth examination of the Citizens’ Initiative, just click here:

The Lisbon Treaty gives us greater power through the Citizens’ Initiative and our representatives at home and abroad- but it also gives us greater rights and a higher level of protection in law. These rights are laid out in six areas:Dignity, Freedoms, Equality, Solidarity, Citizens’ Rights and Justice. With the ratification of Lisbon, these rights will have equal status in law to the founding treaties of the Union. The EU has driven equality legislation in Ireland, from equal pay for women to protections for young people at work. This charter continues that tradition by enshrining workers rights in EU Law. Article 28 of the Charter provides for the rights of worker’s to organise, and to strike. John Monks, general secretary of the European Confederation of Trade Unions has hailed these clauses as “a step forward”

To read more about the Charter of Fundamental Rights, just click here
The Articles

• Article 11 TEU creates the citizens’ Initiative, which allows Irish people to petition the commission to enact changes that are important to them
• Article 3.3 TEU sets out the objectives of creating “a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social protection” while “combating social exclusion and discrimination”.
• Article 28 of the Charter of Fundamental rights enshrines the rights of workers to organise and to strike in law.
• Article 5 TEU, reinforced by the existing Maastricht Protocol and the new guarantee, specifically protects ethical issues - like abortion -
  from EU control. These are solely matters for states to decide upon.

The EU under Lisbon will better protect your most fundamental rights while working toward full employment. It will also allow the EU to respond more effectively to the concerns of the people, without waiting for politicians to take action. These changes are worth fighting and voting for because they empower YOU.

On October 2nd, Vote YES to Lisbon

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