Greens reject blueprint for future shape of EU

THE new draft EU constitution, published yesterday, is unacceptable in its current form, the Green Party warned last night.

Party chairman John Gormley, who is also a member of the Convention on the Future of Europe, said the blueprint for the future shape of Europe represented a further shift of power from small countries to the larger nations:

“Working on the convention it became quite clear that the majority of people spoke against a president of the EU Council but, because the larger states favour this, it appears as one of the draft articles.”

The constitution, which aims to make the EU easier to understand and operate before next year’s enlargement to 25 members, was last night cautiously welcomed by Europe Affairs Minister Dick Roche.

However, Mr Roche warned there was a long way to go before the required unanimous support from all EU states is achieved.

“It is clear that its initial proposals are not acceptable, in particular to smaller states. Much negotiation remains ahead, if a balanced outcome is to be achieved.

"There are also policy issues of particular sensitivity to Ireland.” Although concerns over neutrality, defence and justice policy remain unanswered, many of the Irish fears have been laid to rest.

The axing of any attempt to force member states to have the same tax rates did not make it into yesterday’s text and the word “federal” has also been removed upon opposition from Ireland and other small countries.

While Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny last night called for a Dáil debate on the institutional issues arising from the constitution, such as the creation of an EU Council president and EU foreign minister, Labour MEP and convention member Proinsias de Rossa welcomed the inclusion of clauses on equality, social protection and human dignity.

Munster MEP John Cushnahan, said the proposals on the Common foreign and Security Policy did not go far enough. Having an EU foreign minister does not mean member states will cooperate effectively: “It will not remedy the deficiencies so cruelly exposed during the Iraq debacle.”

The draft constitution will continue to be debated in Europe for the next three weeks after which a final document will be presented to the leaders of all member states at a summit meeting on June 20.

A special inter-governmental conference will continue to iron out any sticking points until next May when current EU members and the 10 new accession countries will - if accord is reached - sign the formal constitution.

Once signed the constitution will be put to the people of Ireland in a referendum which must be passed if it is to go ahead.