Majority of Britons in favour of EU constitution

A poll showing a majority of Britons in favour of a European constitution revived calls for a referendum in the UK today.

The European Commission survey, conducted just after talks on a constitution collapsed in Brussels in December, shows 71% in the UK feel badly informed about what an EU constitution involves.

But whatever it is, 51% of Britons think the constitution – designed to streamline EU decision-making and clarify who does what – is vital to the future smooth running of the enlarged Europe of 25 countries.

A similar proportion – 52% – think the UK should make policy concessions to get a constitution agreed.

And 57% would be happy to see a “two-speed” European Union, in which various groups of member states forge ahead in some policy areas without waiting for others to agree.

The 51% of Britons who say the EU should adopt a constitution is the lowest proportion of all 25 member states.

Across the EU as a whole, an average of 77% back the constitution, a 10% increase on the number in favour before the start of the intergovernmental conference last year to thrash out the details.

Support for the constitution is highest in Italy at 92% followed by Greece (89%), Hungary (87%), Slovenia and Luxembourg (86%), Belgium and Spain (85%), Germany (83%), Lithuania and Portugal (81%) and in Ireland and Cyprus (80%).

Opposition is highest in the UK (30%), Denmark (29%) and Sweden (26%).

The survey of more than 25,000 people in 25 countries was conducted between January 14 – 23, four weeks after the collapse of the Brussels summit, which was supposed to finalise a constitution deal.

The pollsters planted two false statements – that the constitution will include the election by the public of a “President of Europe”, and that it will create a European army.

In both cases an average of about 40% thought the statements were correct, with similar proportions declaring them false. In the UK ’s case, 40% believed the constitution would give them the right to vote for a European President, a post which will in fact be decided by EU leaders.

And 51% in the UK thought the constitution would include setting up a European army.

Neil O’Brien, campaign director of Vote 2004, commented: “This poll shows that people don’t feel they have been told enough about the constitution. The only way to have a proper debate and properly inform people is through a referendum.”