European Parliament wants to turn the treaty into a story!
Dealing with the European Union law and running to 731 pages - the new European constitution is hardly bedtime reading. Why not changing it then?
The European Parliament wants to turn the treaty into a story, illustrated by cartoon characters.
That might be a big challenge, especially as the treaty deals with qualified majority voting, reform of the European Commission and the EU's "legal personality.
But it is the plan to employ "a number of characters . . . to illustrate articles of the constitution" that might give even the most versatile cartoonist pause for thought.
Britons will be given a vote on whether to sign up to the constitution in a referendum next year. Tony Blair is to launch a fierce campaign for a Yes vote after the general election, expected in May. But opinion polls suggest he will struggle to persuade the public to back the treaty.
No Vote campaigners argued yesterday that it was unfair that the European Parliament was able to spend public money promoting the constitution. Neil O'Brien, campaign director of Vote No, said: "The funds we can raise will be dwarfed by the combined spending of the European parliament, the European Commission and the UK government. In terms of spending power we are clearly the underdogs in the coming referendum. Our only advantage is that we are focusing on the arguments while the EU is wasting its money on ludicrous cartoon characters."
The memo also outlines plans for TV and cinema advertisements, a radio jingle, and an internet quiz on the constitution.
Source: FT
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