Surely, the EU Constitution just codifies the rules as to how the EU operates?
Wrong. The EU Constitution does not define the limitations and extent of EU power, in fact it cedes control over 40 areas of decision making to the EU. But is not just another power grab. It also enables the EU to further expand its power to unprecedented and virtually limitless proportions. In short, the EU Constitution will accelerate the EU's legislative imperialism.
Even Gisela Stuart, the Labour MP who helped draw up the EU Constitution said that, "the suggestion that the EU Constitution was just 'tidying up' is a silly phrase best forgotten. Read on...
A Constitution for an enlarged EU:
With the EU being enlarged to 25 member-states surely there is a need to clearly set out the rules of the club?
Wrong. The truth is that the quest for a constitution predates even the EEC and its predecessor, the European Coal and Steel Community. It was a dream of Coudenhove Kalergi, in 1931, when he wrote his book the United States of Europe, and it was a central part of Altiero Spinelli's 'Ventotene Manifesto', written in 1941 under the title Towards a Free and United Europe.
Perversely, the constitution - if it happens - will not resolve the institutional stresses brought about by the enlargement of the EU from 15 to 25 nations. The core problems of trying to manage disparate nations, each with their own agendas, remain. But that is hardly surprising. The constitution was never intended to achieve this. Read on...
How the EU Constitution compares to other treaties:
Were not more powers given away to Brussels by the Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty?
Wrong. The number of vetoes given away in the European Constitution is more than twice the number given away at Maastricht and five times more the number needed for the creation of the Single market. Read on...