Is it illegall for the goverment to give power to aforign organisation like the eu?

Question

they have given power to unelected people surly this is against the constitution

Answer 1

Yes it is, and take no notice of anyone who states that we don't have a Constitution. We don't elect Politicians to give power away to foreign entities, particularly, when it isn't even in their manifestos, without the express approval of the British people in a referendum. Although it should be noted, that the EU has a habit of ignoring referenda. Moreover, no Government may bind a successor. I am waiting for a Tory Government to mount a legal challenge. I don't know why the Monarchy hasn't initiated it already.

Answer 2

I consider it so...

brown an co should be daagged from parliment and strung up from the nearest tree.

Answer 3

Governments can waive their powers if entering into a treaty that controls their economies like the EU.

Answer 4

Beside the issue of legality/illegality the matter of fact is that in a globalized world European countries are too small/not powerful enough to negotiate agreements with the US, Japan or China.

Also, 60-70% of European trade is made with other European countries; this means that it's in our common interest to stabilize and harmonize our relationships with our most important trade partners if we want to reinforce stability and create wealth.

Answer 5

Personally, I think the EU/UN will someday combine to be the government for the Antichrist.

Yes, it's against the US constitution, but for the constitutions of other countries, I cannot speak.

Answer 6

I can guarantee that somewhere in the Labour extremely small print is is a clause stating "we're in charge and we'll do what we want with or without the voters consent"

The latest insult was the signing by Brown of the ratified EU treaty without the consent of the British voters. A subject on which we were all assured the voting population would get their say.

To add injury to this is the latest news speculating on Blair standing for the new post of EU president with the blessing of the french president who praised him for having "persuaded" Britain to sign the treaty. The fact that Brown is Blair's biggest buddy and that by signing the treaty it allowed Blair full access to running for the job seems to have been lost on all but the British people.

Trouble is whilst this sleaze ridden bunch are in power there is feck all we can do about it. A fine example of "democracy" at work.

Answer 7

In the first place we do not have a written constitution.  As you know your point has been argued over time and time again.  As a nation we decided to join the EU and in so doing forfeited our rights in some aspects of legislation.  There is no doubt that in some areas - commerce and trade we have benefited greatly by joining but there is a price to pay.  At the same time we have argued with Brussels over some aspects of legislation - VAT rates is one of them and we managed to get our own way.  I believe the same is true of Foreign Policy.  

It isn't so much a question of "giving power" away as reaching a compromise which will benefit all in the EU.  A lot of mistakes have been made but on balance I think as a nation we have benefited greatly.

Answer 8

I think wearing a Liverpool football shirt should be illegal but it just ain't so and to all those who 'think' it is illegal that the UK government (of both Labour and Conservative hues) have signed in to law agreements to allow the EU to dictate policy you are in the same boat - it ain't illegal.

In fact the UK Govt has never handed over power to anyone.  What it has done is to agree that the EU has primary responsibility for certain areas of policy.  Those policies are put forward in the form of a Directive which the UK Government then enacts in to law through an Act of Parliament.  

The UK Government can be taken to task for failing to implement a directive in law but it can also implement the directive in such a way as to undermine the objectives.  Of course what then happens is that the British citizens who didn't want the law then sue the UK govt in the EU courts because the govt has not given them their rights.

Answer 9

we dont have a constitution. but i do consider it to be illegal with out a referendum. but this labour government seem to just walk away from the law....it quite obviously does not apply to them. but then, if the people wont rise up against them, then what is there to stop them???/

Answer 10

Where money is concerned...there are NO surprises.  That's a fact of life the world over.

Answer 11

No it's not illegal.  In fact it's done all the time.  

They call it foreign aid.  

They take money from hard working Americans and give it to 3rd world dictators to stick in their Swiss bank accounts.

Answer 12

It's not illegal at all, though it's a bit tricky to see why.

Maybe it will be easier by starting with your own comment : "they have given power to unelected people surly this is against the constitution". So that would basically mean that any unelected person working for the state and having a coercive right would be against the law, right? From your tax collector to the first policeman that comes your way. There is no constiutional link between an election and the legitimacy of a state organisation.

Since a new administrative structure, be it domestic or international, is created and authorized by elected political personnel (congressmen etc) or by executives appointed by such elected persons, I cannot see why they would be illegal. Even more, in the case of the EU, you might be aware that the EU Parliament is made of nationally-elected representatives. That makes them far from "unlected people".

Then, by saying "foreign organisation", you make another mistake. The EU is certainly not an independant entity like a sovereign state is. It only exists because states decided to create it, and others joined it. States have their own interest in co-creating such organisations and maintaining them. The base line is : since you are voluntarily part of the organisation, there is no way it can be considered "foreign" or you can consider your state to be some sort of victim from the organisation it belongs to.

Finally, and most importantly, what do we mean by "power" in an international organisation context, which seems to be the main problem of your question? In the case of the EU, its power is limited to create laws, meant to be implemented in every member state. Once again, they all agreed to do this, and it was backed by the people since EU membership must be approved by national referendum.

Other international organisations like the UN have far less power, being basically a forum for states to publically and multilaterally solve their problems and design policies that would be mutually profitable.

Once again, every bit of power conceded to an international organisation has been approved by its member states, and could not exist without clear possibility from national legislation. They are clearly constitutional.

Answer 13

l vote for my MP to look after the power we entrust in them...and pass it intact to the next person who is voted in...l do not want them to give it away for ever.

Answer 14

doesn't look like it does it,lets face it progressive governments in the UK have handed it over without any say from us or anyone else.

Answer 15

it is