‘Sneak thief’ threatens EU constitution

EUROPEAN Parliament President Pat Cox warned that MEPs could scupper any new constitution if it were to remove their control over the EU budget.

He accused Europe's finance ministers Ecofin of trying to usurp democracy by taking over control of all aspects of the union's 100 billion annual fund.

The draft constitution proposes giving the parliament a larger role in the budget than it has had in the past but also handing a measure of control to the Ecofin ministers. Ecofin was the uninvited guest who operated like a sneak thief in the night as far as democracy is concerned," said Mr Cox, as EU leaders' attempt to finalise the constitution. He will work over the weekend with the leaders to ensure these proposals are scrapped, he said. Up to now the parliament had no say in the parts of the budget spent in member states, such as CAP, which amounted to over half. Under the draft constitution Ecofin would control the amount of money to be contributed by the member states.