The new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has invested a lot of time and effort in informing the British people that he is a listening Prime Minister. Now he has the opportunity to show that he is listening to the people by granting them a referendum on this issue.

What was agreed last month is the Constitution in all but name. They may have replaced the word 'Constitution' with 'Treaty' but the substance is still the same.

Out goes the right of the UK to veto legislation it does not like in around 50 new areas, from energy and transport to employment law.

In comes a new, powerful European President and Foreign Minister and more powers for the European Court.

No one disagrees with the need for fundamental reform in the EU so that it can become more accountable, transparent and more responsive to people's needs. But there is a difference between genuine reform and a constitution which would edge us nearer to 'ever closer union'.

The answers to Europe's problems lie not in 'ever closer union,' but in moving forward with practical co-operation on issues such as improving environmental standards, tackling climate change, economic reform and combating global terrorism.

Jim Nicholson MEP UUP European Office, Belfast