Blair seeks to avoid EU referendum

The prime minister is manoeuvring to avoid a referendum on any EU constitution or treaty, Downing Street said yesterday.

Instead, Tony Blair is pushing for an amended EU treaty which will reorganise the enlarged EU but not require a 'yes' vote from the British public.

Downing Street confirmed yesterday Mr Blair is pushing for an amended treaty free of constitutional elements, adding this had been agreed with the Dutch prime minister Jan Balkenende and President Sarkozy and been put to the German chancellor Angela Merkel.

"This is the ballpark in which Europe as a whole now seemed to be talking, and that was what the aim was," the prime minister's official spokesman (PMOS) said.

Mr Blair is expected to demand a UK veto on foreign policy, employment and criminal law.

The PMOS confirmed Britain would not "in any way surrender our ability to decide our own justice and home affairs legislation", indicating the UK will attempt to negotiate a veto.

But, the PMOS said there are practical problems of an enlarged EU, meaning some form of treaty is necessary.

Although Mr Blair is attempting to avoid a referendum on an EU constitution, which was already rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands, the Conservatives are pushing for a referendum on any agreement that transfers power to the EU.

"Any treaty that is about the transfer of powers to the EU must be put to the country in a referendum," leader David Cameron told the Telegrapgh.

Mr Blair will seek to reach an agreement at the EU summit at the end of this month. He will almost immediately afterwards step down as prime minister, meaning Gordon Brown will have to deal with any subsequent fall out and calls for a referendum.