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		The European Constitution - Questions and Answers January 14 2004 1. Wasn't the Constitution thrown out by the EU Heads of Government last December? No. Their failure to agree last December was a set-back for the project, but the institutions are determined to press ahead with it. 2. Hasn't the government already promised us a referendum anyway? No. They've promised us a referendum before any decision on the euro currency - they say they won't scrap the Pound without asking us first. But they've refused a referendum on the proposed European Constitution, even though it's a far more wide-ranging issue than the currency. 3. Isn't the Constitution just a "tidying up of the treaties", to help decision-making in an enlarged EU? No. It's much more than that. It passes control of a whole range of policy areas to Brussels - to institutions where we have no control and very limited influence. These policy areas include: • Foreign Affairs and Defence • Justice and Home Affairs • Asylum and Immigration • Social, Employment and Economic Policy • Transport • Energy (including North Sea oil and gas) • Agriculture and Fisheries • Environment and Consumer Affairs 4. Good Heavens! What's left for Westminster to run? Not a lot! Education and Health - but the EU even claims a "co-ordinating role" in those policy areas. Westminster arguably will have less responsibility than a County Council. 5. But doesn't the government still have its "red lines"? It's already given up on a whole series of issues where it said it would stand firm - it said, for example, it would have no Constitution and no Charter of Fundamental Rights. It's gone back on those promises. Besides, the European Court could rule that a "red line" on tax (for example) was inconsistent with the EU's duty to harmonise economic policy, and strike it down. The EU has a history of by-passing apparent road-blocks. 6. Don't we have a veto? The Constitution takes away our veto in at least thirty areas - and the notorious "passerelle clause" allows the few remaining vetos to be dumped, without our parliament having a say. The proposed EU Constitution represents a massive change in the way Britain is governed. Our government has no right to sign it without the wholehearted consent of the British people. WE MUST HAVE A REFERENDUM.