12 January 2005 - Euro-MPs who today gave their backing the proposed EU constitution have taken the EU a step closer to a democratic crisis, a Green Party MEP has warned.

Caroline Lucas, an associate of the Centre for a Social Europe and the International Forum On Globalisation, said today’s vote threatened to widen the crisis of democratic confidence facing the EU, as UK opposition to the constitution continues to grow.

Speaking today after MEPs in Strasbourg voted to express support for the constitution, Dr Lucas said: “This constitution will take the EU further down the road of economic neo-liberalism and require member states to increase their military spending and continue to promote the nuclear energy industry.

“The EU faces a crisis of democratic confidence. The need for radical reform to place social and environmental justice at the heart of a transparent and democratically accountable EU has never been greater – but this proposed constitution is a step away from, not towards, these goals."

ENDS