20 April 2004
Prime Minister Tony Blair said today that the people of Britain will have the final say on a new European Treaty
"It is time to resolve once and for all whether this country, Britain, wants to be at the centre and heart of European decision-making or not; time to decide whether our destiny lies as a leading partner and ally of Europe or on its margins," he said.
Mr Blair said that the enlargement of the European Union from 15 to 25 members on 1 May is "right for Europe and for Britain", and will make the region the greatest economic market in the world.
The new Constitutional Treaty aims to change the way Europe works following enlargement and to pull other existing treaties together. Mr Blair said the government would insist on amendments to the present draft Treaty to ensure that certain policy areas - like taxation, foreign policy, defence and social security - remain under national control.
He also challenged some of the myths about the Treaty:
"That the EU will be renamed the ‘United States of Europe’. No it won’t. It is to remain the EU…
"That Britain will be forced to join the euro, without a referendum and regardless of our economic tests being passed. No it won’t. The existing agreements on the single currency remain in the new Treaty…
"That Brussels will have the power to set taxes in Britain. Taxation is to remain with the nation state."
Mr Blair said that the government will agree to the Treaty provided it incorporates the essential British positions. Parliament will debate it in detail and then, he said:
"The electorate should be asked for their opinion when all our questions have been answered, when all the details are known, when the legislation has been finally tempered and scrutinised in the House, and when Parliament has debated and decided."
delicious
digg
facebook
