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Mandelson in EU debate warning Mandelson in EU debate warning
(10 minutes later)
European Commissioner Peter Mandelson has warned against a "poisonous" and protracted debate about the EU treaty.European Commissioner Peter Mandelson has warned against a "poisonous" and protracted debate about the EU treaty.
Mr Mandelson dismissed claims the reform treaty document is effectively the same as the constitution rejected by voters in France and Holland.Mr Mandelson dismissed claims the reform treaty document is effectively the same as the constitution rejected by voters in France and Holland.
He said it was "a sensible agenda for the effective working of the EU" - and called those opposed to it "diehards" who could not see Europe has changed. He said it was "a sensible agenda for the effective working of the EU" - and called British opposers "diehards" who could not see Europe has changed.
He was speaking ahead of next week's EU summit in Lisbon to approve the treaty. His London speech came ahead of the EU summit in Lisbon to approve the treaty.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has faced calls from the Conservatives, the trade unions and a growing number of his own MPs to hold a referendum on the treaty.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has faced calls from the Conservatives, the trade unions and a growing number of his own MPs to hold a referendum on the treaty.
The cross-party European scrutiny committee added to the pressure this week by saying the treaty is "substantially equivalent" to the failed constitution, on which British voters were promised a referendum.The cross-party European scrutiny committee added to the pressure this week by saying the treaty is "substantially equivalent" to the failed constitution, on which British voters were promised a referendum.
Mr Brown has insisted the treaty is different to the constitution - and has threatened to veto it if he does not win the concessions - or "red lines" - he has sought.Mr Brown has insisted the treaty is different to the constitution - and has threatened to veto it if he does not win the concessions - or "red lines" - he has sought.
'Bitter debates''Bitter debates'
In a speech to the Centre for European Politics at the University of London, Mr Mandelson warned against the sort of battle over Europe which could result from a referendum.In a speech to the Centre for European Politics at the University of London, Mr Mandelson warned against the sort of battle over Europe which could result from a referendum.
"I strongly believe it would not be in the interests of Britain for our politics to return to the sort of poisonous debate over Europe we have had in the past," he said."I strongly believe it would not be in the interests of Britain for our politics to return to the sort of poisonous debate over Europe we have had in the past," he said.
"From a narrow, purely domestic perspective, it would, I believe, be a political mistake."From a narrow, purely domestic perspective, it would, I believe, be a political mistake.
"But more importantly than that, a return to the bitter debates of the past would hamper Britain in pursuing its interests within the EU, and through the EU, in the world.""But more importantly than that, a return to the bitter debates of the past would hamper Britain in pursuing its interests within the EU, and through the EU, in the world."
Eurosceptics failed to recognise that the EU has changed to accommodate British concerns, said Mr Mandelson.Eurosceptics failed to recognise that the EU has changed to accommodate British concerns, said Mr Mandelson.
When the EU accepts priorities put forward by the UK, Britain needs to "take yes for an answer", rather than positioning itself in constant opposition to Brussels.When the EU accepts priorities put forward by the UK, Britain needs to "take yes for an answer", rather than positioning itself in constant opposition to Brussels.
'Not radical reform''Not radical reform'
In a world where the billion-strong Indian and Chinese economies are increasingly big players, a country of 60 million people like the UK has no "viable alternative" to working as part of a bloc like the EU, he said.In a world where the billion-strong Indian and Chinese economies are increasingly big players, a country of 60 million people like the UK has no "viable alternative" to working as part of a bloc like the EU, he said.
The new treaty will "reform some of the EU's institutional structures to function better in the global age and to cope with future enlargement", said Mr Mandelson.The new treaty will "reform some of the EU's institutional structures to function better in the global age and to cope with future enlargement", said Mr Mandelson.
And he added: "It is not a radical reform. It's not a constitution - there is no anthem, no ancient Greek mottos. It is a sensible agenda for the effective working of the EU.And he added: "It is not a radical reform. It's not a constitution - there is no anthem, no ancient Greek mottos. It is a sensible agenda for the effective working of the EU.
"And although the EU's pooling of some powers to give Europe greater weight in the world will always be objected to by British diehards, we need to remember that for the little bit of influence over our own actions that we grant others, we get an equivalent measure of influence over theirs.""And although the EU's pooling of some powers to give Europe greater weight in the world will always be objected to by British diehards, we need to remember that for the little bit of influence over our own actions that we grant others, we get an equivalent measure of influence over theirs."