Treaty threatens to raise real problems

Date: 26/11/1998

Concern is growing over radical plans due to be discussed at a meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers next week.

A proposal on the table for the creation of an “area of freedom, security and justice” contains a brand new and very important principle: the “principle of reality”.

Apparently the idea is set out in the Amsterdam Treaty, but some cheeky officials are warning that this is clearly uncharted territory for the European Union and should not be taken further without careful consideration of the implications.

The aim is to apply the new principle to all areas of EU policy, doubtless to be joined soon by those other two novel notions: the “principle of common sense” and the “principle of saying what you mean”.