Andrew Duff MEP for East of England

Andrew Duff campaigns in France and the Netherlands

11.34.43am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th May 2005

As the French and the Dutch prepare to vote in their referendums on the new Constitution for Europe, East of England Liberal Democrat Euro MP Andrew Duff has set out on a hectic series of meetings and demonstrations in those two countries.

Andrew Duff is one of the key authors of the Constitution and is spokesman on constitutional affairs for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

In a statement today he said:

"There is a curious air of defeatism about these two referenda in France and Holland. That is absurd. Those who believe in a strong democratic Europe able to stand on its own feet in world affairs must campaign hard until the polls close.

"I shall be working alongside my French and Dutch colleagues to convince the public of the great merits of the Constitution. Many lies and distortions have got to be challenged. The case for modernising the European Union, and for making it more efficient and effective, is a good one. People respond to the European case when they hear it put with clarity and conviction."

The demonstration starts this morning with a display of Oui! placards in the plenary of the Parliament in Brussels. At 17.00 Andrew Duff will lead a human chain, including many Euro MPs, at the Hotel de Ville in Paris. Tomorrow night Duff will speak at a political rally in Groningen, Holland, and continue his campaign on Saturday in The Hague.

ENDS/...

Editors' Note

The French vote on Sunday and the Dutch on Wednesday 1 June.

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