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Blair says no UK referendum on new EU treaty: report
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will not hold a referendum on a new European Union treaty, Prime Minister Tony Blair said in an interview published on Friday.
Instead he hopes to agree on the framework for the treaty -- a less ambitious version of the stalled EU constitution -- at a summit of European Union leaders in June, Blair told the Financial Times and a small group of European newspapers.
Asked whether the treaty he had in mind would need a referendum, he said: "No. If it's not a constitutional treaty, so that it alters the basic relationship between Europe and the member states, then there isn't the same case for a referendum."
The Financial Times said Blair expected to agree "the basic outline agreement for a treaty" at the EU summit on June 21-22.
Breaking the logjam over the European constitution would be Blair's final act on the European stage before he bows out after a decade in power in Britain, the newspaper said.
"Sort it out, then move on," Blair told the newspapers.
Finance minister Gordon Brown, who is most likely to takeover from Blair, would be left to oversee negotiations on the small print in the following months, the Financial Times reported.
In 2005, French and Dutch voters rejected the European constitution in referendums As a result, Blair suspended plans for a British referendum. Given widespread scepticism about Europe in Britain, the government fears it could lose such a vote.
His shift towards an EU treaty has triggered accusations of U-turning, but Blair said it was impossible to please everyone.
"We are going to get attacked whatever we do, but Europe needs to do it to move forward."
Earlier this week, Blair said Europe did not need a constitution, but should opt for a scaled-down new treaty that would not require a referendum.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, holder of the six-month EU presidency, wants to resuscitate the treaty. The subject will be a main topic of debate at the EU meeting in June.
Blair also defended Britain's position in Europe, highlighting areas of participation including climate change and the budget. "For Britain as a country and this government as a government, those days of isolation are over," he said.
