Blair backs EU constitution
Tony Blair has today given his full backing to a new European constitution.
“I think the sooner we do this the better,” he told reporters in Brussels.
June 17th has been set as a deadline for a deal to be made.
He explained that the new Europe of 25 countries cannot function in the way that it currently does with 15 member states.
“It’s a question of co-operating where it’s in our interests to do so.”
Prime Minister Blair said all countries are in the same position: “The national interest of individual countries have got to be taken in account.”
He said: “There’s no way that Britain is going to give up running its criminal justice system in the way Britain wants to run it.”
The prime minister added that the UK would not give up its policies on security and taxation.
The Conservative Party are calling for a referendum on a constitution, which they claim would create an EU “super state”.
Ten new countries will join the European Union on May 1st.
