Jean Quatremer’s Coulisses de Bruxelles blog on the Liberation website notes that the UK failed to get an opt out from the jurisdiction of the court in this area: “At the moment, judges in Luxembourg play no role in the interpretation of rules issued from the so-called 'third pillar'... Once the future treaty enters into force, the Court in Luxembourg will assume uniform interpretation of the whole of JHA. London wanted to be exempted from this control including for the JHA norms that it decided to apply – ‘That is not acceptable, that would upset the equality between member states’, a French diplomat recently explained. ‘There will be no immunity of jurisdiction for the United Kingdom.’”

Comment:
If this is a good thing then why is the Government so keen to get it delayed? As the Foreign Office noted in a memo, the court’s new powers “raise sensitive issues relating to national sovereignty.” That the UK Government appears to have tried and failed to get a wider opt-out for the jurisdiction of the Court only highlights the significance of the proposal.
EUobserver Coulisses de Bruxelles

Referendum pressure growing in Denmark?
Berlingske Tidene reports that Danish “diplomatic sources” have found the revised EU Constitution not to breach any of the “red lines” that would require the country to hold a referendum on the text. The article notes that although this would seem to reinforce the government’s line that there should be no referendum, there are “growing internal qualms within the parties” with several leading social democrats demanding a public vote and with the chairman of the co-governing Conservative Party last week also demanding one.

BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell reports on his blog that the latest version of the EU treaty has been agreed in French. He notes that although the prospect of a referendum in the Netherlands is diminished, Denmark could hold a vote given that the Conservative part of the coalition is supportive. Mardell notes that according to Open Europe, Gordon Brown will try to either “snub the informal [EU summit on 18-19 October], have it delayed, or engineer a row”.
Berlingske Politiken BBC

Prospect: Revised Constitution simply a result of 27 lawyers in a room
In this month’s Brussels Diary, Manneken Pis argues that the disputes over the June text are simply the result of putting 27 lawyers in the same room together and that legal skirmishes are being blown up to suit nations domestic audiences. He predicts that of the three countries that might hold polls, Ireland will support the revised Constitutional Treaty but is less sure of the response in Denmark and the Netherlands.

It is also mentions Open Europe, noting that “Organisers say there are lessons to learn from ‘this canny and clever organisation and its ‘slick approach’ to the media.”
No link

UK given just 48 hours to decide on revised Constitution
On the Telegraph website Christopher Hope reports that Europe Minister Jim Murphy told the European Scrutiny Committee that "Britain was given just 48 hours’ notice of the details in the European Union reform treaty before being asked to agree to it" back in June.
Telegraph

EU wants to teach children about history and benefits of EU’s institutions
The Telegraph reports that under a new EU communication policy, member states will be urged to teach children the history and benefits of the EU and its institutions. Britain was singled out as a country that suffered a “lack of information” about the workings of Europe.
Telegraph

Cameron speech reaction and early election speculation
David Cameron’s speech to the Conservative conference concluded with a challenge to Gordon Brown to call an early election. The speech was well received in the Sun, which indicated that Cameron had successfully avoided a ‘crisis’. The Mail notes that “Last night there were signs that the likelihood of an election was receding, with senior Labour figures arguing for more time to 'demolish' Tory proposals for tax cuts.” Cameron told his audience that Brown’s refusal to hold a referendum on the EU left democracy in the “dark ages”. He asked “Are we saying that when it comes to how you’re governed, you can’t have a say?”

According to the Guardian, “There was no immediate sign that the speech had shaken the confidence of Mr Brown's allies, who argued the speech lacked a unifying theme. But Labour will be watching the polls over the next three days before meeting again on Sunday to decide whether to press ahead with the planned November 1 poll.” On his blog Mail Political Editor Ben Brogan says he is "certain" that "there won't be an election this autumn.”
BBC Sun Times FT FT leader Telegraph Guardian