The EU is expanding
Published:
31 May 2003 y., Saturday
The draft European Union constitution will effectively create a "new country" of Europe, the Tories have claimed.
The Conservatives have fiercely attacked the constitution, with Tony Blair already rejecting their calls for a referendum.
The advent of a president and foreign secretary along with other elements of the new constitution would give it the character of a state, shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram claimed.
But the government's chief negotiator on the constitution, Peter Hain, said the Tories' claims were "total waffle".
Mr Hain said the new framework stated the EU would stay a partnership of nation states. He also echoed Mr Blair's claims the Tories' secret agenda was complete withdrawal from Europe/
Mr Hain denied reports he had been reprimanded last week by Tony Blair following a radio interview in which he appeared to suggest that next year's elections to the European Parliament would be a de facto referendum on the new constitution.
Šaltinis:
BBC News
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis met with the parliamentary delegation from Moldova, that is paying a visit to Lithuania at the invitation of Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. International Republican Institute and the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies, which is currently chaired by Lithuania.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with Dr. Birutė Galdikas, a well-known Lithuanian Canadian primatologist, conservationist, ethologist, and author of several books relating to the endangered orangutan.
more »
President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė received letters of credence from the Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdelkader Khemri.
more »
On 11-12 April in Vilnius, Lithuania’s Presidency of the Community of Democracies held a convening meeting of the Working Group on Gender Equality.
more »
Figures recently published in the FDImarkets.com investment monitor database show that 28 foreign companies invested over EUR 1 billion and created 5300 new jobs in Lithuania in 2009.
more »
The Ministry of National Defence must seek that NATO's new strategic concept takes account of Lithuania's interests, President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined during her visit to the Ministry of National Defence.
more »
On March 19th the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (Seimas) hosts the discussion European and Lithuanian Values: Identical or Different?
more »
This March 11, Lithuania will commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Restoration of Independence.
more »
March 4, finishing ceremony of training for leading officers of Afghan National Police was held in Chaghcharan, capital of Ghowr.
more »
On 9 March in Riga, Lithuania’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Evaldas Ignatavičius took part in bilateral consultations between foreign ministries of Lithuania and Latvia.
more »