Sir, - Time to question the conventional objections to a federal Europe? There is a mistaken belief that, if the European Union were to adopt the federal political model, the sovereignty of member-states - already at risk - would virtually disappear. Current debates on Europe concentrate on enlargement, the number of commissioners and voting procedures, ignoring the fundamental issue of the division of powers between the Union and its members.
Under a federal system, the powers and rights of member-states would be constitutionally protected, thus preventing the continuing and alarming erosion of national sovereignty in the name of "ever closer union". A new constitution for Europe would provide, inter alia, that all powers, other than those delegated to the Union, would be reserved to the member-states. Surely the Government of Ireland should be campaigning for the reconstitution of Europe on a federal basis. - Yours, etc.,
T. O'Connor, Churchtown, Dublin 14.