May 2009 07

EU X-Files0

Our attention is drawn again that that gold mine of random nuggetry, the European Parliament. It transpires that a while back, an MEP by the name of Marios Matsakis inquired of the European Commission whether it should open up an investigation into UFOs (or, as the French would style them, OVNIs).

The Cypriot Liberal noted that the MOD had opened up its records but that many questions remained. Moreover, the phenomenon no doubt extended across Europe as a whole.

"At the risk of perhaps appearing non-serious," he cautiously pondered whether an EU body should look into the issue, "perhaps in collaboration with other third country (e.g. USA and Russia)."

Sadly for the intrepid Cypriot, the prospect of a Kurt Wallander/Fox Mulder team up was rejected: "The question of unidentified flying objects does not come within the competence of the Commission, which has no intention of pursuing this matter."

Intriguingly, however, it yet might. Under the EU Constitution, Article 189 provides for the EU in the future to develop a European Space policy: "To this end, it may promote joint initiatives, support research and technological development and coordinate the efforts needed for the exploration and exploitation of space."

What could be more apposite in researching Space than chatting with the little green fellows themselves? Again, having made first contact, foreign policy issues start to kick in as soon as someone is asked to take them to their leader: clearly a new plum posting for the expanding EU diplomatic service…

We may be having a little fun, but this does prove a point. The Lisbon Treaty is no different from any other European treaty that has gone before it. Every new article and expanded competence awarded to Brussels is open to exploitation in ways never expected – subject only to the imagination of the Commission, and perhaps the inquisitiveness of an MEP.

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