1. University of Surrey Issues in Politics Today The British Referendum on the European Union Constitutional Treaty April 2005

2. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Contents  What is the Constitutional Treaty?  Why does it matter?  The British referendum: issues and problems  Questions and debate

3. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips The Constitutional Treaty  Designed to meet 3 challenges: Bring the EU closer to its citizens Reorganise what the EU does and how it does it Consolidate the EU’s position in the international system

4. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips How Did We Get The Text?  2001 – Laeken Declaration set out basic objectives  2002-3 – Convention on the Future of the EU (made up of representatives of governments, parliaments and EU institutions) meets  2003-4 – Intergovernmental Conference (government representatives only) considers Convention’s proposals  June 2004 – Constitutional Treaty signed in Rome

5. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips What’s in the Treaty?  A single document, so more transparent  Changes to the institutions  Changes in what the EU does

6. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Institutional Changes  Permanent President of the EU  Permanent Foreign Minister  More meetings of government representatives to be open to public  European Parliament gains powers

7. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Changes in Policy  Charter of Fundamental Rights included in Treaty, strengthening the Human Rights dimension  New Powers in Crisis Management and Space Exploration  Otherwise, much like before

8. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Why Does It Matter?  First EU Treaty to be designed with new members from Central and Eastern Europe  First EU Treaty to be designed with so much input from the public (via the Convention)  Aims to create a more permanent footing for the EU

9. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Why Does It Matter? (2)  Because many countries have decided to hold popular referendums on agreeing to the Treaty, there is an opportunity for people to consider their relationship to European integration

10. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips The British Referendum  Initially, the UK was only going to have a vote in Parliament  But pressure from political parties and the public made the government change its mind in April 2004  Vote likely to happen after General Election, probably in Spring 2006

11. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Main Issues  Is the Treaty just a ‘tidying up exercise’ or a big step towards a ‘European superstate’?  Does it help or harm British people and the economy?

12. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Main Issues (2)  Underlying question of “what role does the UK want to play in the European Union?”  Does a ‘No’ vote mean the UK has to leave the EU, or the EU will collapse, or a new agreement will be found?

13. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Problems  Most people know very little about the EU  People will not vote on the content of the Treaty, but on other things: What they think of the government What they think of ‘Europe’ in general What they think of the economy

14. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Problems (2)  Hard to get unbiased information from media, political parties or other sources  Many people are not very interested in finding out

15. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips Who’s in favour and who’s not? YES  Labour  Lib Dems  Big businesses  About 25% of public NO  Conservatives  UK Independence Party  Small business  About 50% of public

16. www.surrey.ac.uk/pips What will happen?  Many people are undecided  Many others will change their mind  “A week is a long time in politics” So still everything to play for