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EU treaty good for UK, says Blair EU treaty good for UK, says Blair
(about 1 hour later)
An agreement reached in Brussels on a new European Union treaty protects Britain's interests, Tony Blair says.An agreement reached in Brussels on a new European Union treaty protects Britain's interests, Tony Blair says.
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.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.
Gordon Brown also intervened to persuade Mr Blair to demand a protocol to protect the EU's internal market.Gordon Brown also intervened to persuade Mr Blair to demand a protocol to protect the EU's internal market.
The Tories say Britain has agreed to "major shifts of power to the EU" and are demanding a referendum.The Tories say Britain has agreed to "major shifts of power to the EU" and are demanding a referendum.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the government had "absolutely no democratic mandate" to push through these changes. Concerns 'sorted'
"Blair and Brown have signed up to major shifts of power from Britain to the EU and major changes in the way the EU works," Mr Hague said. Mr Blair had gone to Brussels with four "red lines" on human and social rights, foreign policy and tax and benefits which he did not want crossed before a deal could be made.
The prime minister insisted the agreement would allow the UK to take on those parts of EU judicial and crime policy it chose to. He said the two days of tough talks had secured all of Britain's four key demands.
He said the agreement would allow the UK to take on those parts of EU judicial and crime policy it chose to, and that the treaty would not require a referendum.
This deal gives us a chance to move on Tony Blair Your views: EU treaty What the deal entailsThis deal gives us a chance to move on Tony Blair Your views: EU treaty What the deal entails
But Mr Hague rejected this, saying: "The EU would now be able to sign treaties in its own right and, despite any 'opt- ins', the European Commission and Court of Justice would now have new powers over criminal law."
Former SDP leader and Labour foreign secretary Lord Owen also called for a referendum, saying: "These issues that the prime minister's been discussing over the midnight hours in Brussels are deep constitutional questions and to pretend otherwise is absurd."
'Not a problem'
Mr Brown and Mr Blair had several last-minute telephone conversations after the chancellor expressed his unhappiness at a concession to France which had removed a treaty objective of "free and undistorted competition".Mr Brown and Mr Blair had several last-minute telephone conversations after the chancellor expressed his unhappiness at a concession to France which had removed a treaty objective of "free and undistorted competition".
But Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett told Radio 4's Today programme the prime minister-in-waiting's objections had now been "sorted" and were "not a problem". Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett told Radio 4's Today programme the prime minister-in-waiting's objections had now been "sorted" and were "not a problem".
She said Britain was not a country which "governs by referendum", adding: "People buy into the notion that somehow some massive change has taken place. This is not a massive change." She said Britain was not a country which "governs by referendum".
"People buy into the notion that somehow some massive change has taken place. This is not a massive change," she said.
'Major shifts of power'
The new treaty is planned to replace the failed EU constitution, which was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005.The new treaty is planned to replace the failed EU constitution, which was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005.
Mr Blair said the most important thing about the deal was that it allowed the 27 European nations to move forward.Mr Blair said the most important thing about the deal was that it allowed the 27 European nations to move forward.
"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.
These issues that the prime minister's been discussing over the midnight hours in Brussels are deep constitutional questions, and to pretend otherwise is absurd Lord Owen EU leaders agree on treaty
"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' But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the government had "absolutely no democratic mandate" to push through the changes that had been made.
Mr Blair had gone to Brussels with four "red lines" on human and social rights, foreign policy and tax and benefits which he did not want crossed before a deal could be made. "Blair and Brown have signed up to major shifts of power from Britain to the EU and major changes in the way the EU works," Mr Hague said.
He said the two days of tough talks had secured all of Britain's four key demands and meant the treaty would not require a referendum in the UK. "The EU would now be able to sign treaties in its own right and, despite any 'opt-ins', the European Commission and Court of Justice would now have new powers over criminal law."
We are very, very satisfied with what we have been able to conclude Angela Merkel class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6232540.stm">EU leaders agree on treaty 'Stealth and deceit'
At the end of the talks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the current EU president, said they had achieved "a detailed and clear mandate" for an inter-governmental conference which will draft the actual treaty. Former SDP leader and Labour foreign secretary Lord Owen also called for a referendum, saying: "These issues that the prime minister's been discussing over the midnight hours in Brussels are deep constitutional questions and to pretend otherwise is absurd."
"We are very, very satisfied with what we have been able to conclude," she said. And the leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage, accused Mr Blair of "stealth and deceit".
"The real achievement of this summit - and Tony Blair's helped in this - is that the European Union itself has taken a significant step forward to becoming the global superpower that it always sought to be," he said.
The treaty will need to be ratified by each of the EU's member states at the end of the year, before entering into force in mid-2009.The treaty will need to be ratified by each of the EU's member states at the end of the year, before entering into force in mid-2009.
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.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.
But the leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage, accused Mr Blair of "stealth and deceit". But some observers in Brussels say the House of Lords may not be very willing to play ball when it comes to ratification.
"The real achievement of this summit - and Tony Blair's helped in this - is that the European Union itself has taken a significant step forward to becoming the global superpower that it always sought to be," Mr Farage told BBC News 24.