Referendum gives us the chance to make the EU account for itself

ANOTHER year, another European treaty. But the people of Europe, to judge by last June’s Euro elections, have never been so disillusioned with the European project. Eurosceptic parties made gains in Britain and Belgium.

Sinn Féin got their first MEPs elected here. Participation in European elections has never been lower - fewer than half the electorate bothered last time out. This is despite the fact that MEPs have more power than before, as we saw during the Buttiglione affair when EU commission president Barroso was forced to reshuffle his new team in order to win the support of the European parliament.

And yet, EU governments are determined to push for further integration. The European constitution must be ratified by each member state by the end of 2006, and many countries - including Britain, Denmark, France and ourselves - are committed to holding a referendum on the matter.