Valéry Giscard d'Estaing has submitted the draft EU Constitution in Thessalonica. There is, however, an alternative. The European Union must adopt root and branch reform as set-out by the Eurosceptics on the Convention in their minority report.

Tony Blair is at a fork in the road. He can either go the way of democracy or be shunted down the path to a Superstate. He must veto Valéry Giscard d’Estaing’s plans and recognise that his policy of ‘positive’ engagement in Europe has lead to abject failure and has betrayed Britain’s national interests. If the Prime Minister is unable, or unwilling, to stand-up to Europe’s federalists he is no longer fit to remain in office.

A centralised Europe is the 1970s response to the problems of the 50s and 60s. Tony Blair should push for the positive alternative of a Europe of co-operating, democratic and freetrading nation-states.

The Rt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP, Conservative delegate to the Convention said to the Bruges Group, “Now there is a genuine choice on the table over the kind of Europe we should have. Tony Blair has no excuse for giving away more of Parliament’s powers.

“The Convention was set up in part to look at what powers could come back to national control, like fisheries. We have a mandated opportunity that must not be squandered.”

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– NOTES TO EDITORS –
Bruges Group representatives are available for interviews and quotes