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Blair sets out EU treaty demands Blair sets out EU treaty demands
(30 minutes later)
Tony Blair has said he will not sign a treaty at this week's EU summit giving up control of British law to Brussels.Tony Blair has said he will not sign a treaty at this week's EU summit giving up control of British law to Brussels.
He said there were four key areas where he would not compromise: the Charter of Fundamental Rights, foreign policy, common law and tax and benefits.He said there were four key areas where he would not compromise: the Charter of Fundamental Rights, foreign policy, common law and tax and benefits.
He told MPs his stance meant there would be no need for a referendum on any treaty which emerges from talks.He told MPs his stance meant there would be no need for a referendum on any treaty which emerges from talks.
But critics say any deal which hands power to the EU must be put to the public in a referendum.But critics say any deal which hands power to the EU must be put to the public in a referendum.
If we achieve those four objectives I defy people to say what it is that is supposed to be so fundamental that could require a referendum Tony Blair Prime minister PM seeks 'permanent' reform Blair backs appointed LordsIf we achieve those four objectives I defy people to say what it is that is supposed to be so fundamental that could require a referendum Tony Blair Prime minister PM seeks 'permanent' reform Blair backs appointed Lords
Mr Blair pledged in 2004 to hold a referendum on the draft EU constitution, before it was rejected by voters in France and Holland.Mr Blair pledged in 2004 to hold a referendum on the draft EU constitution, before it was rejected by voters in France and Holland.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is currently chairman of the EU, is expected to push this week for a new treaty preserving the bulk of the constitution.German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is currently chairman of the EU, is expected to push this week for a new treaty preserving the bulk of the constitution.
She is expected to lobby for the EU to have a "single legal personality," a legally-binding charter of fundamental rights and more majority voting in criminal law and foreign policy.She is expected to lobby for the EU to have a "single legal personality," a legally-binding charter of fundamental rights and more majority voting in criminal law and foreign policy.
Europe Minister Geoff Hoon has told the BBC Gordon Brown, who will take over as prime minister at the end of this month, would hold a referendum if significant powers were transferred to the EU at Thursday's summit.Europe Minister Geoff Hoon has told the BBC Gordon Brown, who will take over as prime minister at the end of this month, would hold a referendum if significant powers were transferred to the EU at Thursday's summit.
Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson, a close ally of Mr Brown, told BBC Radio Four's The World at One it would be "absurd" to rule out a referendum "in advance of the negotiation".Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson, a close ally of Mr Brown, told BBC Radio Four's The World at One it would be "absurd" to rule out a referendum "in advance of the negotiation".
But he said he did not think there would be a need for one as the likely deal would not "amount to any significant transfer of powers".But he said he did not think there would be a need for one as the likely deal would not "amount to any significant transfer of powers".
Final engagementFinal engagement
In his final appearance before the Commons liaison committee, Mr Blair said he wanted a deal to "amend" existing EU treaties.In his final appearance before the Commons liaison committee, Mr Blair said he wanted a deal to "amend" existing EU treaties.
Mr Blair has outlined what he won't sign up to, but shouldn't he have the decency to tell us what he will agree on? Nigel Farage, UKIP leader
"If people want an agreement this week we have got to go back to a conventional amending treaty," he told MPs."If people want an agreement this week we have got to go back to a conventional amending treaty," he told MPs.
And he set out the areas where he said he would not compromise at the summit, which will be his final major engagement before stepping down as prime minister.And he set out the areas where he said he would not compromise at the summit, which will be his final major engagement before stepping down as prime minister.
"First, we will not accept a treaty that allows the charter of fundamental rights to change UK law in any way."First, we will not accept a treaty that allows the charter of fundamental rights to change UK law in any way.
"Second, we will not agree to something that replaces the role of British foreign policy and our foreign minister."Second, we will not agree to something that replaces the role of British foreign policy and our foreign minister.
"Thirdly, we will not agree to give up our ability to control our common law and judicial and police system."Thirdly, we will not agree to give up our ability to control our common law and judicial and police system.
"And fourthly, we will not agree to anything that moves to qualified majority voting something that can have a big say in our own tax and benefit system. We must have the right in those circumstances to determine it by unanimity.""And fourthly, we will not agree to anything that moves to qualified majority voting something that can have a big say in our own tax and benefit system. We must have the right in those circumstances to determine it by unanimity."
He added: "If we achieve those four objectives I defy people to say what it is that is supposed to be so fundamental that could require a referendum."He added: "If we achieve those four objectives I defy people to say what it is that is supposed to be so fundamental that could require a referendum."
'Good deal''Good deal'
He said a treaty was needed to make an expanded Europe of 27 nations work effectively but the government could "never satisfy" Eurosceptics who he said wanted to take Europe in a "backwards" direction.He said a treaty was needed to make an expanded Europe of 27 nations work effectively but the government could "never satisfy" Eurosceptics who he said wanted to take Europe in a "backwards" direction.
"There are people who will say if there is a comma from the constitutional treaty that goes into the new treaty who will say it is a fundamental matter and has got to be put to a referendum," Mr Blair told MPs."There are people who will say if there is a comma from the constitutional treaty that goes into the new treaty who will say it is a fundamental matter and has got to be put to a referendum," Mr Blair told MPs.
The British government still has a hard job on its hands BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Read Mark's thoughts in fullThe British government still has a hard job on its hands BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell Read Mark's thoughts in full
But he also revealed that he did not believe there had been a need for a referendum on the constitution in its original form.But he also revealed that he did not believe there had been a need for a referendum on the constitution in its original form.
"I never had the feelings about the constitutional treaty that other people had because we had actually negotiated a very good deal for the UK."I never had the feelings about the constitutional treaty that other people had because we had actually negotiated a very good deal for the UK.
"But I accepted in the end it was a treaty that - in the way it was put forward - led to people to say this is something of such a fundamental nature that it should be put to the British people. I didn't always agree with that.""But I accepted in the end it was a treaty that - in the way it was put forward - led to people to say this is something of such a fundamental nature that it should be put to the British people. I didn't always agree with that."
Mr Blair was also grilled on public sector and constitutional reform in his final appearance before the Commons liaison committee. 'Dead duck'
Mr Blair, who steps down as PM next week, has faced the committee - made up of chairmen of the select committees - twice a year since 2002. The UK Independence Party, which campaigns for Britain's exit from the EU, dismissed Mr Blair's assurances as "a decoy to mask what is really going on".
"If there is nothing in the treaty that the British people should object to, then why is he too scared to let us have a say in a free and fair referendum?," said UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
"Mr Blair has outlined what he won't sign up to, but shouldn't he have the decency to tell us what he will agree on?
"Are Mrs Merkel and [French president] Mr Sarkozy really going to be held back from their dreams of a new EU Treaty by a dead duck prime minister who only has days left as leader?," he added.
Mr Blair will step down as prime minister on Wednesday next week.