Constitution - There is nothing to reflect about
Thursday 23rd June 2005 - Plenary Session, Brussels
Mr. President,
Speaking as a British Conservative, I should like to congratulate Prime Minister Blair on his recent robust defence of the British rebate in the House of Commons in Westminster. I urge him to stand firm on the rebate and to honour the clear commitments which he has made.
I also commend his conversion to a long-standing Conservative policy: that of wide-ranging reform of the EU -- reform which is essential now that the EU has ceased to command the respect, or to engage the enthusiasm, of the public.
However, as John Redwood said this morning on the Today programme, if he is serious about reform and deregulation, he will have had a team working for months on detailed plans. Who are these people? Where are these plans?
I am concerned that he has agreed to "a period of reflection" on the Constitution. There is nothing to reflect about. The decision of French and Dutch voters is extremely clear. France and Holland did not vote for a slightly different Constitution. They voted against the Constitution in its entirety. Under its own terms, the Constitution cannot take effect unless all member states ratify it, which will not now happen.
UK voters, given the chance, would have rejected the Constitution by a still wider margin than France or Holland. Overwhelmingly, they want trade and cooperation in Europe, they reject your political union.
Will Mr. Blair agree with me that meaningful reform of the EU will require radical renegotiation of the treaties, including the Treaty of Rome? Will he make this a key objective of the British Presidency?
Finally, may I thank Mr. Blair for staying to listen to this debate -- as he so rarely does in Westminster
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