Timothy Kirkhope MEP - Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament

Supporters of the EU constitution risk further alienating Europe's citizens if they continue to be in denial over the results of the referendums in France and the Netherlands, Timothy Kirkhope MEP,  leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament, said today.

 

Mr Kirkhope made his comments following a speech in the chamber at Strasbourg, in which he urged EU leaders to move beyond recriminations about the 'no' votes and start moving Europe in a different direction when they meet for a summit on 16-17 June in Brussels.

 

The Leader of Conservative MEPs said that by insisting on further integration as the only way forward for Europe, the European Parliament had contributed to growing public disquiet over the EU's direction. But, he said, the Parliament could seize the initiative by accepting the  Constitution is fatally undermined and leading Europe towards a new future based on cooperating nation states.

 

Mr Kirkhope said:

 

"Many pro-constitution politicians are in denial. They have problems accepting the results in France and the Netherlands. They want ratification to continue. But the more they insist on keeping the constitution alive, the more they risk making the democratic deficit even wider.

 

"I hope EU leaders will pour cold water on the idea of continuing with ratification. They must also reject any notion of 'cherry-picking' the constitution by stealth. Smuggling the treaty in by the back door would not only be contemptuous of democracy but would exacerbate the very problem we are seeking to resolve.

 

"The Parliament has been part of the problem. It has failed to take account of the growing chasm between the EU political elite and Europe's citizens. But the Parliament can also be part of the solution. What Europe needs now is a dose of hard-headed reality.

 

"Instead of lamenting the constitution's demise, the Parliament should move the debate forward, reflecting unease about closer EU integration and establishing a Union based on cooperating nation states and organised in due course by a treaty that really does simplify matters."