The European Union needs a real simplifying treaty that permanently enshrines cooperating nation states as the foundation of the Union, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, leader of Conservatives in the European Parliament, said today as exit polls from the Netherlands suggesting a large majority of voters there have rejected the proposed EU constitution.

 

Mr Kirkhope made the following comments:

 

On the result:

 

"This is another big shot in the arm for democracy. The Dutch have said they want to be Dutch, just as the French said they want to be French. They want the EU to exist on the basis of nations making decisions in their own interests, not as a fledgling superstate, which is the road the constitution would have taken us down."

 

On what should now happen in the EU:

 

"EU leaders must now recognise that the constitution is effectively dead and buried. But they will also see that the Doomsday scenarios they forecasted are not happening. It's vital that EU leaders take this opportunity to reflect on and reconsider the future of Europe.

 

"What we need now is a truly simplifying treaty which really does make the EU function more effectively on the basis of cooperating nation states. EU cooperation will not work unless Europe's citizens are willing participants. The EU must engage them in a process that puts them and their nations at the heart of decision-making. Voters must understand, and approve of, what is said and done in their names. French and Dutch voters have made it clear that they do not approve of a constitution which would have left them with even less control over their own lives and national destinies."

 

On what should now happen in the UK:

 

"It is clear now that the constitution is effectively dead. There is no point having a referendum in the UK if there is nothing to vote on. But if ratification continues, or if there is the slightest chance of the constitution being rebranded and reintroduced, Britain should not only hold a referendum but do so straight away."

 

ENDS