Press Release

 

 

For immediaterelease

Thursday 19June 2003

 

 

 

EUconstitution: IoD highlights business fears

 

 

A policy analysispublished today by the Institute of Directors highlights major businessconcerns about the proposed EU constitution.

 

Thedraft text of the Constitution will be presented to a summit of EU leaders inThessaloniki tomorrow.

 

Concernshighlighted in the new IoD BusinessComment include:

 

       Plans to abolish theveto over justice, asylum and immigration issues.

 

       Plans to force memberstates to conform to a single EU foreign policy. The veto would be abolished.

 

       The new sharedcompetence which would prevent member states from legislating in areas such asenergy, transport, social security and consumer policy.

 

       The Charter ofFundamental Rights, which will allow the courts to impose new (and as yetunknown) obligations and burdens on British employers.

 

 

 


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TheIoDs Parliamentary and European Adviser, James Walsh, said:

 

"Theseplans represent a dramatic transfer of power to EU level. British businesseswill lose influence over crucial policy areas. National vetoes will beabolished on justice, immigration and foreign policy.

 

"Bothin tone and substance, these proposals are all about the creation of a Europeansuperstate. The Government must put them to a referendum."

 

Ends 19.6.03 No.177

 

 

Notes to editors

 

 

1.      Copies ofthe Policy Paper are available from the IoD Press Office

Tel. 0207451 3264 or email press@iod.com

 

2.      A seminar discussing the EU Constitution is taking place atthe IoD's headquarters - 116 Pall Mall, London - on Monday 23rd Juneat 11.30am. Guest speaker is The Rt.Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP, UK delegate to theConvention on the Future of Europe. For more information please contact thePress Office.

 

3.      TheInstitute of Directors is a non-party political independent organisation witharound 55,000 members. In addition to its wide range of business services, theIoD provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its members togovernment and key opinion-formers. It also brings the experience of businessleaders to bear on the conduct of public affairs.

 

 

 

 

Contact Points:

 

Richard Taylor, PressOfficer, tel: 020 7451 3264

mobile and out of hours: 07721 734886

David Marshall,Director of Public Affairs, tel: 020 7451 3263

mobile and outof hours: 0776 4883420

email: press@iod.com

web: www.iod.com