LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair's government unveiled legislation Tuesday to put the EU constitution to a referendum, confident that eurosceptic Britons can yet be persuaded to approve it.
The European Union Bill was introduced by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for debate and adoption in the House of Commons just days before French and Dutch referendums that could see the EU constitutional treaty defeated.
"This important bill provides for a referendum to be held on the EU constitutional treaty and for the treaty to be given effect in United Kingdom law if approved by the referendum," said Straw in a statement.
"Its introduction underlines our commitment to ratify this treaty by a referendum in the United Kingdom," he said.
He added: "I firmly believe that this treaty is good for the United Kingdom and good for Europe."
"It creates a framework for a European Union of nation states which is more efficient, more effective and more democratic."
"I look forward to debating the facts of this treaty in the House, dispelling the many myths around it and setting out for the British public the clear case for voting 'yes'."
In a bold U-turn, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced in April last year that he would put the EU constitution to a referendum, despite opinion polls which consistently show that most Britons would reject it.
Straw has said that the referendum would probably come in the first half of next year, following Britain's six-month turn at the rotating EU presidency which begins July 1.
The European Union Bill, once adopted by parliament, would give effect to the EU constitution in British law through an amendment to the 1972 European Communities Act.
"It ensures that those changes to the act can only come into force after approval in a referendum," the Foreign Office said in a statement.
A Foreign Office official told AFP that the European Union Bill should come up for debate and approval in principle in the Commons in mid-June, before it goes on to the House of Lords.
Royal assent could come as early as before the summer parliamentary recess, or as late as the end of the year.
Straw told reporters Tuesday: "We are publishing the EU Constitution Bill today as an indication of our confidence in the constitution and our determination to get this through a referendum."
"It will go before parliament today in advance of the referendums in France and the Netherlands," he added.
"On the issue of will the referendum go ahead in the event of a French 'non', this is hypothetical. But we have made it clear repeatedly that as long as there is a treaty, there will be a referendum."
The constitution -- intended to streamline the workings of the EU after its enlargement a year ago -- must be ratified by all 25 EU member states before it can come into force.
Its rejection by French voters on Sunday would give Blair an excuse to cancel a British referendum. It would also, however, saddle the incoming British EU presidency with the fate of an unwanted constitution.
A "non" vote in France would also overshadow the next EU leader's summit in Brussels on June 16-17, at which Britain is determined to hold onto its 20-year EU budget rebate.
With the European Commission angling for a budget of one trillion euros (1.3 trillion dollars) over seven years, "the central question which the EU has to resolve... is the level of overall spending by the EU," Straw said Tuesday.
Straw has warned that Britain is ready to go as far as using its power of veto on EU spending issues to hang on to the rebate, which is currently worth 3.2 billion pounds (4.65 billion euros, 5.87 billion dollars).
05/24/2005 15:38 GMT