EU Constitution outline welcomed

THE basic outline of a constitution that will shape and govern the future of the European Union was broadly welcomed by Ireland’s representatives on the convention yesterday.

Europe Minister Dick Roche described it as a work in progress and said there was nothing in it that was unduly alarming.

The main fear for the Irish and the other smaller member states is that it would propose a federalist approach like that in the United States of America with all countries subject to an overall governing body.