Dutch PM wants more EU say for national lawmakers

STRASBOURG, France, May 23 (Reuters) National parliaments must have more say in vetting planned European Union legislation if citizens are to accept a treaty reforming its institutions, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said today.

The Netherlands and France rejected a draft constitution in 2005 referendums, plunging the EU into a crisis of confidence from which it is just starting to emerge.

Balkenende told the European Parliament his country, one of six founder members, remained profoundly pro-European but wanted a more democratic and transparent EU that was less pernickety in regulation and more respectful of national identity.

''We have to take account of the concerns of our citizens,'' he told EU lawmakers, shortly before new French President Nicolas Sarkozy was due to discuss his vision of a ''simplified treaty'' at EU headquarters in Brussels.

''If a majority of national parliaments are opposed to a given proposal, there must be consequences.'' Balkenende said he was sure a compromise could be found at an EU summit next month if fellow leaders agreed on a more modest, step-by-step reform.

A new treaty should allow a limited increase in decision-making by majority vote and enshrine the criteria for EU membership to reassure citizens worried that enlargement had gone too fast and aspirants were not meeting European standards.

Balkenende acknowledged the constitution rejected by 62 percent of Dutch voters contained a provision that if a third of national legislatures raised objections to a draft EU law, the European Commission would be forced to reconsider it.

But he said additional measures should be considered if half of the parliaments opposed a proposal. ''Does that mean to block? ... that will be part of the discussion we will have also in June,'' he said, referring to a June 21-22 summit.

He said there would be no infringement of the EU executive's sole right of initiative to propose legislation.

Diplomats said several of the countries that had problems with the charter, including Britain and the Czech Republic, were highlighting concerns that were already met in the treaty so they could claim victory in any deal at the June 21-22 summit.

Britain, for example, was being offered a right to opt out of closer cooperation on justice and police cooperation which it effectively secured in the constitution, they said.

Parliamentary leaders welcomed Balkenende's declared readiness for a pragmatic compromise but several faulted him for failing to show pro-European leadership during the referendum.

Reuters SLD GC2300