Hansard

EU: Reform Treaty

Volume 699: debated on Wednesday 27 February 2008

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Lord Pearson of Rannoch

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether British citizens speaking against the European Union could be charged with xenophobia following the granting of legal personality to the European Union by the reform treaty. [HL1523]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Lord Malloch-Brown)

The conferral of legal personality on the EU by the Lisbon treaty will in no way diminish the freedom to criticise the EU. British citizens speaking against the EU cannot therefore be charged with xenophobia.