How does it differ from the original constitution?
Unlike the constitution, the treaty contains no references to European flags or anthems, which proved so unpopular with voters. The European motto – “United in Diversity” – is also left out of the treaty, but motto, flag and anthem will all remain in existence. Instead of a European foreign minister, as proposed in the original constitution, there will be a High Representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy. The treaty has also dropped any mention of European laws, referring instead to regulations. Is it just the constitution under a new name? The official line from the British Foreign Office is that the new treaty has “no constitutional characteristics”. But last week the Labour-led European Scrutiny Committee concluded that only two of the 440 provisions in the treaty differed from the original constitution – its name and the flag and anthem proposals. Opponents say that, like the constitution, the treaty removes too much sovereignty from member states. What hap
