No EU superstate 'even in 100 years'

Jack Straw calls himself a "practical European"

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has dismissed the notion of a European state.

In his first major speech on Europe since taking up the key cabinet brief, he said the European Union should concentrate on practical help for its people and not get bogged down in internal squabbling.

Mr Straw warned that the EU must to make itself "better liked" by its own citizens.

Some of us feel increasingly European, others less so; but we can all agree that we cannot build a state called Europe

Jack Straw

His speech comes after the head of the EU, Romano Prodi admitted Europe's citizens find the EU's political system "complex and obscure."

There have also been signs of growing disaffection with the EU, following the violence at the Gothenburg summit and a 'No' vote in the referendum on the Nice Treaty by the normally pro-European Irish.

No superstate

He dismissed the claims of the Euro-sceptics that the EU leaders were trying to build a United States of Europe, insisting that the nation state would remain the foundation of the Union.

"The nation state is where popular loyalty and democratic legitimacy reside.

A common culture and values take many generations to develop," he said.

"Some of us feel increasingly European, others less so; but we can all agree that we cannot build a state called Europe," said the foreign secretary.

"Our citizens do not want that. And I doubt if they will be ready for that a hundred years from now.

Right conditions

Mr Straw was careful to avoid controversy over the single currency, simply re-stating the government's official line that there were, in principle, benefits to joining in the economic conditions were right.

Too often Labour has talked big about Europe. Even with this speech it has failed to take a lead on the key issues facing an enlarged European Union

Conservative foreign affairs spokesman Richard Spring

Mr Straw said that while some institutional reform of the EU was necessary, it was essential that it avoided giving the appearance of being in a "state of permanent revolution".

The EU needed to convince voters that changes were not just being made for their own sake but in order to find new ways of serving the citizen better.

"Our objective should be an EU that is better understood, better liked and with which our citizens are familiar and comfortable," he said.

At the same time, he stressed that Britain should have the self-confidence to engage fully in the debate on the future of Europe.

"We should be grown-up about this, not scared of our shadow, recognise that we are part of the mainstream of opinion, not isolated from it," he said.

Hype and hysteria

"We have to rise above the hype and hysteria and have confidence that we can build our kind of Europe.

"In Britain, we need to convince people that we have everything to gain as a European power with the clout and confidence to make the EU work in our interests."

The speech to the Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House in London, was trailed by officials as a serious analysis of the EU's history and its governing ideals.

Talking big

Tory foreign affairs spokesman Richard Spring said that while much of Mr Straw's rhetoric on Europe was welcome, he had failed to put forward any specific proposals.

"The challenge now is to turn their words into specific action and concrete proposals," he said.

"Too often Labour has talked big about Europe. Even with this speech it has failed to take a lead on the key issues facing an enlarged European Union."