Become an E.U. 'instant expert' ...

It's not surprising there's so much misunderstanding surrounding the proposed 'written' EU constitution. The current version of the document consists of over 500 pages. Yet the French and Dutch people have recently been asked a single sentence question. Even more amazingly, they've been offered the option of only a one word answer.

How dare these politicians !

Talk about taking ordinary people for granted. Talk about insulting their intelligence. Talk about treating them with contempt. Talk about dismissing their concerns with disdain. Huh!

Because - believe me - that's exactly what's been happening in France and Holland. Likewise, it's exactly what's been planned for UK people too - by our own smarmy set of self serving, phony politicians.

Whatever your previous preferences, thoughts, opinions, beliefs, etc - I strongly recommend that anyone genuinely interested in any European self-enlightenment - should spend just a few short minutes studying what follows. It's the 500 word work of 'gobbledygook,' translated & condensed into a simple, plain English, 'nutshell'.

If anyone can then tell this particular European, Old Brit, how the hell anyone [other than the ruling elite] can hope to gain anything from this proposed 'constitution' that they haven't already got .......... well ................. I promise them a prize.

** The EU constitution: a 10-point guide.

The ( U.K.) Foreign Office's guide to the EU constitution (Tuesday June 17, 2003)

1
Britain and the other member states agree to establish a European Union so that they can work together where they need to. The union has a constitution setting out what is done at the European level. It can be changed if everyone agrees. Any European state can join or leave. (Articles 1, 6, 57, 59, Part IV)

2
The union is based on certain principles: human dignity, liberty, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. It aims at promoting peace, its values, and its peoples' well-being. It treats all equally. Its citizens' rights are set down in a charter. (Articles 2-3, 44-46, 50-51, 58, Part II).

3
It is a union of the citizens and states of Europe. Its decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizens. It respects its member states' national identities, and the member states must help each other fulfill the union's objectives. It works openly. (Articles 1,5, 7-8, 42, 49, Subsidiarity and National Parliaments Protocols)

4
The union has only the powers the member states give it. It acts at EU level only when it needs to. When it does act, its laws prevail over member states' laws. (Article 9-11)

5
The main bodies of the union are: a council with ministers from each member state; a European parliament with MEPs from each member state; an independent commission; and a court with judges from each member state. There are other bodies. The council and commission have presidents. The union has a budget, which must balance. (Articles 18-31, 52-55)

6
The leaders of the member states, meeting in the European council and acting unanimously, are in charge of the union's political direction. Acting within their guidance, the commission will propose EU laws, and the council will decide on them, often by majority vote and jointly with the European parliament. (Articles 18-26, 32-38)

7
There will be a single market, with free movement of goods, peoples, services, and capital across the union. (Articles 3-4).

8
Member states coordinate their economic policies. There will be a single currency, the euro, for member states that wish to participate and meet the conditions. (Article 14)

9
There will be common action, more in some areas than others, where it makes sense to work together: agriculture, fisheries, transport, environment, illegal immigration, asylum, fighting crime, and so on. In some areas, smaller groups of member states can act together. (Articles 12-13, 16-17, 41,43)

10
Member states will seek to act together in foreign and defence policy, but both remain intergovernmental and subject to unanimity. Common action will be co-ordinated through a European foreign affairs representative. (Articles 15, 27, 39-40, 56).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0,7369,979434,00.html