Brussels seeks 'federalising' EU powers over justice and human rights Citing the deportations of Gypsies in France and breaches of judicial independence in Hungary as breaches of the rule of law, the commissioner also used the recent arrest of a Guardian journalist under UK anti-terrorism law as an example of a case where the EU could intervene. "She believes this was putting undue pressure on a journalist," said her spokesman. The proposals would give the EU the power to make and enforce its own human rights rulings, such as votes for prisoners or legal challenges from trade unions on employment laws restricting the right to strike. As a "first step," Mrs Reding is seeking to use the existing Lisbon EU Treaty to create a "mechanism" giving Brussels the power to issue a "formal notice" to governments regarded as breaching the rule of law. She would then like to see treaty change creating "detailed monitoring and sanctioning powers for the commission" and powers for the EU courts to strip countries of voting rights or to levy massive fines on governments. "Such a big step in European integration would have to be included in the broader reflections on the future development of the EU into a political union," she said. Jose Manuel Barroso, the commission president, will set out more plans for the future of the EU in a ﾓstate of unionﾔ speech in Strasbourg next Thursday. The push towards greater political union, backed by Germany, is in sharp contrast to the British government which is seeking treaty change to reduce the EU's powers, including by "opting-out" of many European justice measures. The British opt-out is not for negotiation or challenge. The rule of law in Britain must remain a matter for our government, our parliament and our judiciary, much as Commissioner Reding might wish it otherwise," said Timothy Kirkhope MEP, the Conservative European spokesman on justice and home affairs. To most British and most European citizens her ambitions are something completely alien and repellent. Nigel Farage MEP, the leader of Ukip, rejected proposals that, he argued, would lead to votes for prisoners and other justice measures opposed by the House of Commons. "The rights and freedoms of the British people should be protected by the British people not granted and judged by power-hungry centralising fanatics in Brussels," he said. This is not about law but about more control, almost total control by bureaucrats unelected by the people.