11-12-2004, 02:49 AM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
|
Administrator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Long Ashton, Bristol
Posts: 10,140
Party: None
|
UK ministers court FTSE 100 bosses over EU treaty
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4a3d5c24-4a...00e2511c8.html
Quote:
The bosses of some of Britain's biggest companies have been called to talks with senior ministers about Europe's new constitutional treaty amid growing anxiety within government that they are losing the battle for business hearts and minds.
About 30 top officials from FTSE 100 companies are to meet Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, and Patricia Hewitt, trade and industry secretary, behind closed doors at the Foreign Office next week. The group will include chief executives and other boardroom representatives.
The meeting marks the first concerted attempt by members of Tony Blair's cabinet to try to win the backing of big business for the treaty ahead of a referendum likely in spring 2006. The government is anxious to build support for the treaty ahead of a general election expected next May. It wants to stimulate public debate in time for the publication of a bill, expected within weeks, that would ratify the constitution.
The talks on Wednesday will be the first time Mr Straw has discussed the issue with so large a group of senior executives. The initiative reflects concern that the government faces an uphill battle to persuade industry of the benefits of the constitution.
"They have got a job to do to sell it to business. There has been a shift in opinion against Europe in the last two years plus lots of scare stories," said Charles Grant of the think tank, the Centre for European Reform.
Neil O'Brien of Vote No, the anti-constitution campaign, said: "The level of real business support for the constitution is very low. Business is around three to one against the treaty."
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
