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EU treaty good for UK, says Blair EU treaty good for UK, says Blair
(40 minutes later)
An agreement reached on a new European Union treaty protects Britain's interests, Tony Blair says.An agreement reached on a new European Union treaty protects Britain's interests, Tony Blair says.
EU leaders in Brussels have agreed an outline of new rules for the 27-member bloc after two days of tough talks.EU leaders in Brussels have agreed an outline of new rules for the 27-member bloc after two days of tough talks.
Mr Blair said the "four essential things" the UK needed to protect its position "have all been obtained".Mr Blair said the "four essential things" the UK needed to protect its position "have all been obtained".
It gives the UK an opt-out on a charter of human and social rights, keeps Britain's independent foreign policy and tax and benefit arrangements. It gives the UK an opt-out on a charter of human and social rights and keeps Britain's independent foreign policy and tax and benefit arrangements.
And it also allows the government to take on those parts of EU judicial and crime policy it chooses to. It also allows the government to take on those parts of EU judicial and crime policy it chooses to.
Mr Blair had gone to Brussels with these four "red lines" which he did not want crossed before a deal could be made.Mr Blair had gone to Brussels with these four "red lines" which he did not want crossed before a deal could be made.
The new treaty is planned to replace the failed EU constitution, which was rejected by voters in 2005.The new treaty is planned to replace the failed EU constitution, which was rejected by voters in 2005.
'Fundamental rights' Mr Blair said the most important thing about the deal was that it allowed European nations to move on.
Mr Blair said the most important thing about the deal was that it allowed European nations to move on and concentrate on the issues concerning citizens. "The truth is we've been arguing now for many years about the constitutional question," he said.
"The truth is we've been arguing now for many years about the constitutional question, " he said.
"This deal gives us a chance to move on. It gives us a chance to concentrate on the issues to do with the economy, organised crime, terrorism, immigration, defence, climate change, the environment, energy - the problems that really concern citizens in Europe.""This deal gives us a chance to move on. It gives us a chance to concentrate on the issues to do with the economy, organised crime, terrorism, immigration, defence, climate change, the environment, energy - the problems that really concern citizens in Europe."
'Fundamental rights'
At the end of two days of talks, Mr Blair described in detail the four essentials required by the UK.At the end of two days of talks, Mr Blair described in detail the four essentials required by the UK.
"Those were first of all to make it absolutely clear that the charter on fundamental rights was not going to be justiciable in British courts or alter British law," he said."Those were first of all to make it absolutely clear that the charter on fundamental rights was not going to be justiciable in British courts or alter British law," he said.
He said that had been secured by a specific protocol for the UK. That had been secured by a specific protocol for the UK.
He also said "there should be no question" of the common foreign security policy "leading to the loss Britain's ability to run its own foreign policy in the way that it wants". He said the summit had secured all of Britain's four key demands and meant the treaty would not require a referendum in the UK.
I think a stronger EU is in Britain's interest, but it should be a union of sovereign states and not a federal union Tony Blair in Brussels EU leaders agree on treaty
At the end of the talks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that "we have a detailed and clear mandate for an IGC [inter-governmental conference]" which will draft the actual treaty.At the end of the talks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that "we have a detailed and clear mandate for an IGC [inter-governmental conference]" which will draft the actual treaty.
"We are very, very satisfied with what we have been able to conclude.""We are very, very satisfied with what we have been able to conclude."
Ms Merkel said it had not been easy but in the end everyone had made concessions.Ms Merkel said it had not been easy but in the end everyone had made concessions.
A concession to France at the Brussels summit had removed a treaty objective of "free and undistorted competition".A concession to France at the Brussels summit had removed a treaty objective of "free and undistorted competition".
Mr Blair said that a legally-binding protocol would ensure the EU's internal market system was not affected.Mr Blair said that a legally-binding protocol would ensure the EU's internal market system was not affected.
The protocol was added after several telephone conversations between Mr Blair and Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown, who was not happy with the concession.The protocol was added after several telephone conversations between Mr Blair and Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown, who was not happy with the concession.
The IGC now has a precise mandate to draft a reform treaty by the end of the year, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels.The IGC now has a precise mandate to draft a reform treaty by the end of the year, says the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels.
This treaty will then need to be ratified by each of the EU's member states.This treaty will then need to be ratified by each of the EU's member states.
Mr Blair also made a "strong plea" for Britain to understand that "Europe has changed".
"We have a commission president who is a reformer, we have got an enlarged EU with real allies for Britain now, we have got a German Chancellor and French president in favour of the trans-Atlantic alliance," he said.
The prime minister said there was "a fantastic opportunity" for Britain.
"Because I think a stronger EU is in Britain's interest, but it should be a union of sovereign states and not a federal union," he said.
"I would say that that is accepted by most people inside the European Union today."
Mr Blair told reporters he was "absolutely confident" of Mr Brown's support for the agreement, and he did not think there would be any obstacles in finalising the treaty in December.