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Island Remains Vigilant Over EU 15 December 2003 The Isle of Man will remain vigilant to protect its interests in relation to
developments within the European Union, Chief Minister Richard Corkill MHK said
today (Friday, December 12, 2003).
Mr Corkill was commenting as EU leaders began a summit in Brussels to discuss
the proposed new EU Constitutional Treaty. The Isle of Man is not part of the
European Union but has a special relationship with it, known as Protocol 3,
allowing the free movement of goods and people.
Said the Chief Minister:
"Whatever the outcome of this latest EU meeting, it is vital that the Isle of
Man continues to keep a close eye on European developments to ensure that our
interests are not infringed. The Manx Government’s
approach to the EU Constitution issue was set out in a Council of Ministers
report to Tynwald in October this year. That report concluded that the proposed
constitution was not expected to affect the Island’s position, but that we must
maintain a careful watch on the progress of this initiative."
Mr Corkill said a recent example of the Island’s vigilance was its challenge,
along with Jersey and Guernsey, to a proposal from the Netherlands that had
emerged during discussions on the proposed EU Constitution.
The proposal would have altered the process for changing the relationships
between the EU and the dependencies of Member States. This proposal was mainly
for the Netherland’s own overseas territories but it would, inadvertently, have
allowed an amendment to Protocol 3 to be possible at European Council level,
rather than at an Inter-Governmental Conference. All reference to the Crown
Dependencies has now been removed from the proposal.
However, there was never any suggestion that the EU Commission could
unilaterally alter the status of dependencies. Any such change would still have
needed unanimity amongst all Member States, as at present, and by constitutional
convention the UK would require the Island’s consent before agreeing.
The Chief Minister commented:
"I am pleased that no change is proposed to the process by which Protocol 3
could be amended. Even though the Netherlands proposal would not have posed a
significant threat to the relationship, our response demonstrates the Island’s
vigilance in favour of the status quo." More stories >>>
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