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Queen fears blair support eu constitution Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/10/16/nque16.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/10/16/ixportaltop.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=26455 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/10/16/nque16.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/10/16/ixportaltop.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=26455 Queen raises fears over EU constitution By Toby Helm, Chief Political Correspondent (Filed: 16/10/2003) The Queen is growing more concerned about Tony Blair's plans to sign a European constitution that she fears could undermine her role as sovereign. The Telegraph has learnt that Buckingham Palace has asked for documents highlighting the constitutional implications of the EU's plans to be sent to her advisers. Her worries came to light as Tony Blair prepared for an EU summit today in Brussels, where European leaders will begin final negotiations on the text of a new EU treaty. As the head of state, the Queen sees weekly briefing papers from Government departments, including the Foreign Office, which has helped negotiate a draft text of the constitution with Britain's EU partners. She also holds a weekly audience with the Prime Minister at which she can raise issues that worry her. But sources say that the Palace has started to throw the net wider and has sought expert independent and critical views about the EU's plans. It is believed that the Palace's concerns focus on whether the Queen's supreme authority as the guardian of the British constitution, asserted through the sovereignty of Parliament, could be altered or undermined by article 10 of the draft text. This states: "The constitution and law adopted by the union's institutions in exercising competences conferred on it shall have primacy over the law of the member states." Many MPs say that this will rob the House of Commons of its ultimate authority to override decisions and laws made by the EU. Last night Downing Street refused to comment on the Palace's request for more information about the constitution. But Frank Field, the Labour MP for Birkenhead, said: "It is wonderful that at last the Palace has got wise to this." He said that in most respects the constitution would relegate the Queen to the role of a "glorified head of a county council". "If it goes through unamended, the nature of Europe changes from an organisation that draws its powers from member states to one that has a legal character of its own and will be able to act as a state." Michael Ancram, the shadow foreign secretary, said: "There is widespread concern at the effects of this constitutional exercise on British sovereignty which is not party political and is shared by people right across the political spectrum. It is vital that the implications of this constitution are fully understood. I believe that it should not be implemented without an affirmative vote of the people in a referendum." Ministers say they are not worried by article 10, which they insist does not represent a material shift of power to the EU. They maintain that it merely defines in writing the hitherto unwritten agreement that EU member states are obliged to accept the rulings of the European Court. During the Brussels inter-governmental conference, which will run into next year, Mr Blair has pledged to resist all efforts by other member states to get rid of the British veto on taxation and foreign policy issues. No 10 officials said that today's talks would focus on the national voting strengths in the Council of Ministers and plans to establish a more powerful position of the president of the council. Iraq and Iran would also be discussed. The extent to which other member states are prepared to share power and co-operate in the EU was underlined yesterday when German government officials confirmed that President Jacques Chirac of France would stand in for Gerhard Schröder, the German chancellor, during the final session of the summit tomorrow. Mr Schröder wants to return to Berlin for a vital parliamentary vote. The unprecedented agreement will be seen by opponents of closer EU integration as clear evidence that Paris and Berlin want to extend co-operation far beyond the present limits envisaged under EU rules.

Agreement near on eu constitution { June 13 2003 } Blair u turn on eu constitution Chirac begs french to accept eu treaty Constitution deadlock plunges eu summit into gloom EU adopts constitution Eu constitution convention signs final draft { July 10 2003 } EU constitution defeat would be serious Eu constitution unveiled Eu constitution { October 28 2002 } Eu president planned Eu president European leaders sign EU constitution European parliament approves new EU constitution { January 12 2005 } Expanded eu Fight over strengh of EU post French socialists back eu treaty Germany to punish spain poland blocking eu constitution Luxembourg prime minister warns of eu crisis Luxembourg voters back treaty after france rejection { July 11 2005 } Poles clear path for deal on eu constitution { March 19 2004 } Queen fears blair support eu constitution Files Listed: 21

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