EU neutral in Presidential election

Rafik Jalaldeen

The European Union stands neutral in regard to the forthcoming presidential election and will not prefer any political parties or candidates.

Addressing the media yesterday to mark the new Treaty of Lisbon, EU Delegation Head Ambassador Bernard Savage said by entering in to the new Lisbon Treaty the EU has entered a crucial stage.

"This new treaty substantially modifies the existing treaties of the European Union and therefore represents a further, decisive step in the process of European integration. Its main aim is to make the European Union more efficient, more democratic, more transparent, closer to its citizens as well as more consistent in the world stage," he added.

Savage noted that the European Commission is pursuing a dialogue with the Government on the GSP+ issue. "The EC adopted to suspend the GSP+ to Sri Lanka concerning various issues. We are conducting lengthy discussions and dialogue with the Government. There will be another eight months to disclose the decision on granting the GSP+. We have positive expectations," he added.

Responding to a question on the stance of the EU during the Presidential fray, Savage said the EU will be taking a fully neutral position and will prefer neither a political party nor a candidate.

"At no time would the EU interfere in the democratic functioning of a third party country with which it has relations in matters of importance", he added.He further said there are around 22 candidates taking part in the forthcoming Presidential election; the public have favourites and preferences. The EU will be ready to deal with the outcome.

As from December 01, 2009 with entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Community, whose establishment marked the beginning of European integration back in the 1950s, ceased to exist and was replaced and succeeded by the European Union which has now gained an explicit legal personality under international law.

Among the other main changes that the Treaty of Lisbon brings about is a clearly set out fundamental values of the European Union which include: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and respect for human rights. In addition, the new treaty gives the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights a legally binding force, a citizens' right of initiative introduced to the powers of European Parliament, the directly-elected body of the European Union.

On the institutional level, the decision-making procedures have been simplified and the European Council, which brings together all Heads of State and Government of the 27 Member States and the President of the European Commission, has become an official institution of the European Union with a permanent President. The former Prime Minister of Belgium, Herman Van Rompuy, became the first President of the European Council, on December 1.