European Constitution (Hansard, 18 December 2002)

§ Patrick Mercer
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with(a) the EU institutions and (b) European partners about the development of a European constitution. [87619]

§ Mr. MacShane
The Government works closely with members of the EU institutions and our European partners on a range of EU issues in the Convention on the Future of Europe.

§ Patrick Mercer
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government is in favour in principle of a written European constitution. [87620]

§ Mr. MacShane
The Government supports an EU constitutional treaty that makes clear that the EU is a union of Nation States, and clearly and concisely sets out what the EU does, and how it does it. This would help to deliver a better organised EU, more accessible to EU citizens and better able to deliver real and practical benefits.