IN response to the letter by Graham Watson MEP on December 12, it is good that Mr Watson should bring the question of a constitution for the EU to the attention of the members of the general public. As he rightly states it will be a challenge for the independence of the member states.
The Liberal Democrat MEPs are proposing an exit clause, which Mr Watson mentions. This clause states that for a country to leave the EU it requires the agreement of two thirds of the European Parliament. Some exit clause!
But why do we need an exit clause? At present no parliament in Westminster can bind its successor. In other words if there were sufficient support in our parliament the UK could leave the EU tomorrow.
The Liberal Democrats? exit clause is in fact a red herring because in practice Britain will never be able to leave the EU if the constitution is adopted. Britain is the second largest contributor (we pay in £30-million per day and receive just under half of that amount back in subsidies, grants, enhancement schemes, objective one etc). Can anyone imagine that all the other member states would ever agree to us leaving the EU?
Another very important point in the proposed new constitution is that it will state that the currency of the European Union shall be the Euro. When this proposed constitution comes into effect during 2004, Mr Blair need not have a referendum on our currency (despite his promise in the election manifesto), as all member states of the EU will be required to adopt the Euro as its currency. Our government has stated that they will not be holding a referendum on the constitution of the European Union.
It is the duty of all loyal citizens of the UK to find out the true facts about what is planned for our country in the European Union. Send a letter to your local MP and MEP asking what their plans are on the proposed constitution. We need to know how the proposed constitution will affect us and future generations.
George Mudge
Meadowside
Collaton
Tavistock